Statement from Tony Blair on Chilcot report

An official statement from Tony Blair's office said: 

“The report should lay to rest allegations of bad faith, lies or deceit. Whether people agree or disagree with my decision to take military action against Saddam Hussein; I took it in good faith and in what I believed to be the best interests of the country.

"The report does make real and material criticisms of preparation, planning, process and of the relationship with the United States. These are serious criticisms and they require serious answers."

Blair added that he would respond in full to the criticisms in full later this afternoon.

"I will take full responsibility for any mistakes without exception or excuse," he said.

He ended the statement by paying tribute to the armed forces and saying that the removal of Saddam Hussein was not the cause of terrorism in the world today.