Tony Blair has sidestepped demands to make a formal apology for the incorrect intelligence used to justify the Iraq war.

Prime minister's question time yesterday saw the Conservatives try to capitalise on Jack Straw's decision to withdraw claims about Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

Tory leader Michael Howard repeatedly called on the prime minister to apologise for giving a "misleading" account of the intelligence.

"The prime minister did not accurately report the intelligence he received to the country," he said. "Will he now say sorry for that?"

Blair, however, would not apologise for removing Saddam Hussein.

"I have made it abundantly clear and do so again that I take full responsibility and indeed apologise for any information given in good faith which has turned out to be wrong. That is entirely proper," he said.

"What I do not in any way accept is that there was any deception of anyone.

"That is what has been looked into by four separate independent inquiries and in each case that allegation has been found to be wrong."

"I wish he would stop playing politics with this issue. It would be more helpful if he would back our troops in Iraq," he added.

The Independent reports that attorney general Lord Goldsmith is now facing calls to resign over his legal advice to the government on the war.

And Peter Mandelson has said that the United Nations should have played a bigger role.

Tony Blair's close ally said: "Who can doubt the insurgence in Iraq would today be a lesser problem if a second resolution had been agreed and had the UN been in the driving seat from the start and throughout? What a difference it would have made."

As the debate on how to tackle Britain's savings crisis begins in the light of the Adair Turner report, Alan Johnson has voiced support for a "citizen's" state pension based on residence rather than contributions.

The pensions secretary told the Commons he thought it is a "really interesting" idea and "deserves much closer examination".

"I have an absolutely open mind, veering towards being positive," the new Cabinet minister said.

Johnson also confirmed that there is no plan to continue with means tested pensions credits indefinitely.

The leader of the House is to confirm today that the Gambling Bill will be given fast-track treatment in a bid to get it on the statute book before the general election.

Peter Hain will tell MPs that the legislation will be introduced ahead of the Queen's speech in order for more time to be available for debate.

The move contravenes convention but can be made because the bill has already received pre-legislative scrutiny.

The Times reports that American casinos will target every major town and city in Britain after the laws are relaxed.

Harriet Harman has warned that the growing security measures outside parliament are isolating MPs from their constituents.

The solicitor general said: "25 years ago you could walk in with no pass, the serjeant at arms' staff were present to direct you to where you wanted to go rather than to check you for security purposes."

Meanwhile, parliament's joint committee on security has agreed that the police and MI5 should take over the running of security.

New figures have shown a rise in economic inactivity, with 124,000 more adults neither in employment nor education in the last year.

Conservative spokesman David Willetts said the statistics showed that: "Like so many of the people it was supposed to help, Labour's New Deal simply isn't working."

Dame Shirley Porter may be extradited back to Britain to face criminal charges over the 1980s "homes for votes" scandal.

The former Conservative leader of Westminster City Council is facing a Scotland Yard investigation over whether she committed perjury or attempted to pervert the course of justice.

David Blunkett has announced that everyone aged over 75 will receive a free passport.

They will be available from next week to thank pensioners for their efforts during the second world war.

Plans being considered by Downing Street could see 13 public sector inspectorates being merged into just four in a drive for greater efficiency.

But home secretary David Blunkett is said to be fighting a rearguard action to keep HM Inspectorate of Constabulary distinct from a new criminal justice watchdog as part of his plans for police reform.

The Commons public accounts committee says today the government must do more to ensure it gets greater value for money from the £15 billion-a-year spent on procurement.

The MPs say that there was much still to be done in improving the way Whitehall buys goods and services.