Michael Howard 18Jul04:

“If I knew then what I know now, that would have caused a difficulty…I couldn’t have voted for that resolution…If you look at the terms of the actual motion put to the House of Commons on March 18 (2003), it placed very heavy emphasis on the presence of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq…So I think it is difficult for someone, knowing everything we know now, to have voted for that particular resolution.”

Michael Howard 28Apr05:

I would have supported the war because I think it was the right thing to do.

“Saddam Hussein had been in breach of many UN resolutions. I think he was a threat to the peace in the region and the wider world but I think it was possible to go to war and tell the truth and I don’t think Mr Blair did that and I think it was possible to go to war with a plan.”

I’m afraid I have to be straight with about this even though it is politically inconvenient.