One-page law paper led Blair to Iraq war

Tony Blair was under pressure today to make a statement to MPs over claims he took Britain to war against Iraq on the basis of a one-page piece of legal advice.

In an extraordinary admission, Cabinet Secretary Sir Andrew Turnbull said Mr Blair did not receive a full legal opinion from the Attorney General on the legality of the military invasion.

Sir Andrew said a short parliamentary answer by the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, was the "full advice"

given to the Prime Minister.

"There is not a longer version of that advice," he told the Commons public administration select committee."This is the definitive statement of his views."

Opposition leaders said the Government's case for war was now in tatters. Until Sir Andrew's comments it had been assumed the parliamentary answer was an abbreviated version of a longer, more detailed legal opinion.