'Clear intent by the PM to keep the UN out'

There was no support from the UN Security Council for the UK to go to war in Iraq "despite sending British ministers around the world to try and get that support", a former Foreign Office adviser has said.

Michael Williams worked for both Robin Cook and Jack Straw at the Foreign Office from 1999 until 2005.

He says he felt President Bush's administration, with support from Tony Blair, had a clear intent to keep the UN out of that decision, something that nearly "broke" Kofi Annan, the then UN secretary general.

(Photo: Jack Straw and Colin Powell at the UN Security council Credit: Getty)