Sketchup: Jack Straw at the Iraq inquiry
A selection of lines from parliamentary sketch-writers.
The attention of Westminster hacks was focused on former Foreign Secretary Jack Straw as he answered questions from the Iraq inquiry committee.
how Mr Straw endeavoured to tread a very fine line, putting distance between himself and old boss Tony Blair - but not so much so that the latter could turn on him when it's his turn next week:
"He gave a sigh and said he would much prefer it if the hearing had been in private (code: Then I could tell you what I REALLY thought about Blair). He said he believed in loyalty (translation: I had disloyal feelings about Blair but suppressed them)."
that while it was unclear whether Mr Straw had supported the decision to go to war, there was no such confusion regarding his own self-belief:
"[W]hat we could all see from the beginning was that Jack Straw was very pro all things Jack Straw.
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"Mr Straw is neat, pin-striped, eager to be noticed. He is not so much pompous as nerdily self-important."
, saying that the former foreign secretary's evidence was the polar opposite to that of Geoff Hoon, who'd been at the inquiry the day before:
"Mr Straw was right at the centre of everything - indeed, was the fulcrum of the whole policy."
that the session gave Tony Blair nothing to worry about, but does ask whether the inquiry's committee members gave Mr Straw enough of a grilling:
"Is the Committee going off the boil again? They must know what Jack Straw's like but they didn't get anywhere near making him sweat."
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