I do not see how the Attorney-General can stay in the government

When the House of Commons returns next week, Iain Duncan Smith will face a personal and political decision that must rank as among the most challenging of his career. He has to decide how the Conservative party handles Iraq.

Iain has a special responsibility, both to the nation and to the party. Some time before British troops went into battle to seek and destroy weapons that were said to threaten this country, the Leader of the Opposition was invited to No. 10 for a briefing on Privy Council terms. By accepting a discussion on those terms he would have felt a deep commitment not to seek to abuse the privilege, or to play politics with it. That is what one would expect. Whether he was wise to accept so binding a commitment in such questionable circumstances is another matter.

I cannot know what questions Iain asked or what answers he was given.