George and Tony
© EPA"Wanna start a war?" "Let's old chap!"
Tony Blair could be hauled before the courts over the Iraq War, the Mail can reveal today. Top barristers working for bereaved relatives of British troops killed in the conflict believe there is evidence that the ex-Prime Minister committed 'misfeasance in public office'.

The legal team has gone through the 2.6million-word, 12-volume Chilcot Report into the controversial conflict with a fine-tooth comb for the past six months. They now conclude that there is a strong case Mr Blair misled Parliament to justify the disastrous 2003 invasion, which cost the lives of 179 UK servicemen and women.

The families' legal team is seeking to build a civil case against him and other Whitehall officials. It was funded with the help of generous Daily Mail readers who raised £150,000 in just two weeks in a bid to bring them to justice. More than 5,000 members of the public dipped into their pockets to help the cause.

But barristers have identified an 'issue of great constitutional importance' which must be studied before it is determined whether any court proceedings can begin. In a bid to give themselves the best possible chance of winning a case, they must assess the implications of a string of 'significant court judgements' in 2016, including the Supreme Court's ruling on Brexit last month. In that case, the judges stated Prime Minister Theresa May could not trigger the formal two-year Article 50 process of quitting the European Union without a vote in Parliament.

The developments mean that the Iraq War Families Campaign Group needs to raise an extra £22,000 to add extra expert counsel to the legal team to consider the issues.

The update was set out in a joint letter to supporters from Reg Keys, whose son Lance Corporal Tom Keys was murdered by an Iraqi mob in an ambush weeks after the invasion, and Roger Bacon, whose son Matthew, a major in the Intelligence Corps, was killed in a roadside bomb in 2005. They said:
'We are pleased to tell you that our legal team has confirmed that the evidence supports the case that certain state officials may be liable for wrongdoing and, in particular, misfeasance in public office. 'However, counsel have identified an issue of great constitutional importance that must be fully and carefully assessed before we can issue any proceedings.

'The issue is all the more significant because in 2016 the UK experienced major changes. In the past few months there have been significant court judgements, including the Supreme Court's Article 50 decision, that must inevitably inform our legal team's approach.

'All this has to be taken into account and our legal arguments finalised before we can take the next step.'
Praising the 'unwavering support' from thousands of people, they added: 'We need your help in our final push to determine whether legal action can be started against those responsible for sending our loved ones to fight and die in an unjust and unnecessary war.'

Matthew Jury, of solicitors McCue & Partners, which is representing the families, said:
'Having spent the past months analysing the report, we can confirm that the evidence supports the case that certain state officials might have acted unlawfully.

'However, the facts have also presented an issue of significant constitutional importance that must be resolved if we are to proceed. Given the significance of this case to the families and the public we are approaching every step with the utmost care.'
The families are pursuing a civil case because the International Criminal Court has refused to take action, the UK authorities will not bring a criminal prosecutions, and an attempt by MPs to name and shame Mr Blair will not result in convictions.

Sir John Chilcot's damning 2.6million-word report blasted Mr Blair for rushing into a catastrophic conflict on the back of flawed intelligence and amid questions over its legality, and for failing to plan for the aftermath of the invasion.

But while the families have to rely on public generosity to fund their legal case, if Mr Blair is hauled before the civil courts his legal bills will be paid by the taxpayer.

Despite earning millions of pounds, the former Prime Minister is indemnified for all his court costs, including possible damages, under Cabinet Office rules.

He insists that he acted in good faith based on the intelligence available to him in the run -up to the war. He claimed the Chilcot Report showed there was no secret plan to invade Iraq and Parliament had not been misled.