Gordon Brown originally intended to appear before Chilcot after the election

Date set for Brown Chilcot appearance

Date set for Brown Chilcot appearance

By politics.co.uk staff

Gordon Brown will appear at the Chilcot inquiry on March 5th, it was confirmed today.

The prime minister will give evidence between 10:00 and 15:30 GMT. He will be asked questions relating to his time both as prime minister and chancellor.

A little later in the day, international development secretary Douglas Alexander will give evidence from 16.30 to 18.00 GMT.

Foreign secretary David Miliband will also appear at the inquiry, on March 8th.

The announcement comes days after Gordon Brown told Tribune magazine he did not support the war because of weapons of mass destruction but because of Iraq’s “breach of international obligations”.

A public ballot will be held to decide who receives tickets to see the prime minister’s evidence, in a repeat of the system used for Tony Blair.

Mr Brown was originally set to appear before the inquiry after the general election, but sustained pressure from opposition parties saw Mr Brown write to Sir John to say he was happy to appear earlier.