PLAID Cymru’s Westminster leader revealed he has seen a top-secret document that “proves beyond doubt” that Tony Blair did a deal with George Bush to invade Iraq one year before the war.
When the former Prime Minister gave evidence at the Chilcot Inquiry last week, he strongly denied making a pact when he had a one-to-one dinner with the President Bush at his ranch in Crawford, Texas – away from their advisers – in April, 2002.
Sir Christopher Meyer, a former British ambassador to the US, told the inquiry that the Prime Minister had struck an agreement to go to war that was "signed in blood".
But Mr Blair insisted no "covert position" was reached. Everything that was agreed on tackling the WMD threat was set out "open" statements in the press conference. Plaid Cymru leader Elfyn Llwyd, however, insists he has seen highly confidential documents that prove “incontrovertibly” that the two men reached an agreement 11 months before the invasion.
It comes after Mr Blair’s appearance at the Chilcot Inquiry, the probe into the decision to go to war, last week.
Mr Llwyd, MP for Meirionnydd Nant Conwy, said: “I think other things should have been pursued (at the inquiry), in particular the detailed conversation at the ranch in Crawford, in April, 2002.
“I do know that the deal was struck, I know for certain it was struck at that stage so just to pretend months down the road that no deal had been struck I think is unforgivable.
“I have offered to give evidence and Chilcot has said ‘I’ll come back to you’. At that stage I will have private discussions with him.”
Mr Llwyd said when the classified document was leaked to him five years ago “spooks” – the security forces – became aware, and that led to a visit from the Metropolitan police.
He added: “What I do know for sure is that the deal was struck, incontrovertibly.
“It created a huge interest among the intelligence community and a section of the Met came to us.
Downing Street declined to comment.
The Inquiry expects to speak to Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Foreign Secretary David Miliband and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander, either in late February or early March.
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