The prime minister will appear before the inquiry into the Iraq war, it was announced today.
But he will not have to give evidence until after the general election, leading to accusations that he has been given preferential treatment.
The Chicolt Inquiry will also wait until after Election Day to quiz foreign secretary David Miliband and International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander.
Miliband was education secretary at the time of the invasion, and Alexander was a minister in the cabinet office.
In a statement, the inquiry said: "Sir John Chilcot stated on December 17 that the committee is 'determined to remain firmly outside party politics' and that 'the Inquiry should not be used as a political platform for political advantage'.
"For this reason, the committee has decided to wait until after the election to hear from those ministers who are currently serving in the roles about which the committee wishes to question them.
"The committee believes that only after the general election can these ministers give their evidence fully without the hearings being used as a platform for political advantage."
Tony Blair is set to appear in early 2010, along with his former spin doctor Alistair Campbell and chief of staff Jonathan Powell.
The former prime minister has already caused controversy ahead of his appearance by admitting he would have invaded Iraq even without evidence of WMD, and would have another found a way to justify the war to the public.
A whole raft of Labour MPs who held senior government posts leading up to the war in 2003 are also due to face questioning.
Former defence secretaries John Reid, Des Browne will appear, along with Geoff Hoon who was defence secretary when the invasion was launched.
Also due to appear is former foreign secretary – now justice secretary – Jack Straw.
Former Cabinet secretary Lord Turnbull and other top civil servants from the Ministry of Defence and the Treasury have also been summoned to give evidence.
