Straw and MPs knew of WMD blunder

Tony Blair's claims that he was not aware of key intelligence failures on Iraq were thrown into doubt today when it emerged that both Jack Straw and some backbench MPs had been told of the blunders last summer.

Last week's Butler Report revealed that MI6 had declared allegations from an Iraqi informer that Saddam was producing chemical and biological weapons were "unsafe".

Downing Street has insisted that the Prime Minister did not know until recently that the crucial intelligence was withdrawn by MI6 last July.

But Foreign Secretary Jack Straw has now admitted that he was informed about the change in September.

The Evening Standard has also learned that the Intelligence and Security Committee was informed even earlier. The committee, made up of backbench-MPs including allies of Tony Blair, was told of the Uturn on the intelligence within days of its withdrawal.

Joint Intelligence Committee chairman John Scarlett also knew of the blunder last July but decided not to tell either Lord Hutton's inquiry or Mr Blair, Downing Street claimed last week.

All members of the JIC, including MI6 Chief Sir Richard Dearlove and Mr Blair's Intelligence and Security Co-Ordinator Sir David

Omand, were informed, but they too failed to tell the Hutton inquiry.

Many backbenchers now want to know how it was possible for the Prime Minister not to be informed that the intelligence he relied on to make a case for war had been discredited.

One senior MP said today: "It beggars belief that the Prime Minister would not have been sent a note on the change.

"The question is, who received it and what happened to it in Number 10."