Will Brown now face Chilcot before the election?

By Alex Smith / @alexsmith1982

UPDATE: Sky News has the letter:

“I am clear that it is a matter for you how you conduct the Inquiry and that it is, and must remain, entirely independent of Government…In undertaking this you have rightly chosen the order you wish to receive evidence. For my part, I want to make it absolutely clear I am prepared to give evidence whenever you see fit. I remain happy to take your advice on this matter.”

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Paul Waugh has highlighed some important announcements hidden within today’s relatively sanguine Prime Minister’s Questions, a session the Evening Standard man says was “yet another good PMQs for Brown.”

After a presumably planted question from Emily Thornberry, Gordon Brown said the Tory marriage policy is “tied up in knots” – and embarrassed shadow business secretary Ken Clarke with a reminder of some of his own words on marriage and Conservatism. Clarke had said:

“I really don’t think it’s anything to do with politicians whether you [get married] and most of the younger people I know don’t seem very keen on it. My view of Conservatism is that it’s not for us to tell you [what to do through] the tax system – my wife didn’t put up with me because I was getting £150 by way of tax allowance. This is social engineering for God’s sake and when I joined the party we weren’t in favour of it.”

After the normal jostling, Brown announced that he would be adopting the Wright Committee’s proposals to transform Parliament, including electing select committee chairs and boosting the voices of backbenchers – something Waugh calls “a major step forward in cutting the power of the whips on all sides”.

Next, Brown revealed he had written to Sir John Chilcot to offer to give evidence before the general election. Chilcot is free, of course, to say Brown is surplus to requirements. But this will increase the chance that the PM will appear before the Inquiry before the election – which, without question, he should.