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Later this week, Tony Blair will be driven through security cordons and past anti-war protesters for his judgment day. Although the Chilcot Inquiry will not ascribe guilt, it may yet rewrite those bits of history that Mr Blair has not previously ironed out in his TV chat show appearance with Fern Britton.

Seven years have passed since Britain sleep-walked to war in Iraq, to the fury of many citizens. Now the wake-up call is sounding for Mr Blair, his supine Cabinet and a tame Opposition for whom collective ignorance is no defence. Hans Blix, the chief UN inspector, cast doubt on the existence of weapons of mass destruction, of which European intelligence could find no trace.