MINISTERS have rejected calls from MPs for stronger checks to prevent future leaders from permitting a rush into war as Tony Blair did with Iraq, MPs said yesterday.

The Commons’ public administration and constitutional affairs committee said the government’s response to its probe into the Iraq war and subsequent Chilcot inquiry did not accept the case for greater scrutiny.

It had warned last March that it would still be possible for a prime minister to disregard the proper Cabinet decision-making process in the way Mr Blair obediently backed George Bush’s illegal war.

Stop the War vice-chair Chris Nineham told the Star: “Frankly it shows they don’t want to learn, they want to have the same freedom Tony Blair had, to be able to organise wars with minimal scrutiny and accountability.

“It doesn't bode well for the future of our foreign policy and it underlines the need for a powerful anti-war movement.”