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15/06/2009
Iraq War Inquiry To Be Held In Private, PM Announces
A Government enquiry into the Iraq war will be held in private, Prime Minister Gordon Brown has announced.
Speaking to MPs in the Commons today, the PM said holding an inquiry in private would allow evidence to be given in as "full and candid" a manner as possible.
The privy councillor inquiry will cover July 2001 to July 2009 and former permanent under-secretary of state at the Northern Ireland Office, Sir John Chilcott will act as chair.
The news comes following widespread calls by opposition parties, as well as many Labour MPs, who have called for the inquiry since shortly after the 2003 invasion.
Mr Brown said work will begin next month, and last at least a year.
He also said that with the last UK combat mission over in Iraq, "now is the right time to ensure we have a proper process in place to learn the lessons".
The Premier added: "The inquiry will be fully independent of Government. The scope of the inquiry is unprecedented. It covers an eight-year period.
"The committee will have access to the fullest range of information, including secret information. Their investigation can range across all documents, all papers and all material.
"No British documents and no British witness will be beyond the scope of the inquiry."
However, the PM was jeered by Conservative MPs when he announced it would take a year to report, as this is beyond the date of the next general election.
Tory leader David Cameron accused Mr Brown of announcing an "establishment stitch-up", which was more concerned about the timing of the inquiry, instead of its contents.
"Shouldn't the inquiry have the power to apportion blame? If mistakes were made we need to know who made them and how they were made."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg added: "I am staggered that the Prime Minister is seeking to compound the error, fatal to so many of Britain's sons and daughters, by covering up the path that led to it."
He added: "He has taken a step in the right direction but missed the fundamental point.
"A secret inquiry, conducted by a clutch of grandees, hand-picked by the Prime Minister, is not what Britain needs."
(JM/BMcC)
Speaking to MPs in the Commons today, the PM said holding an inquiry in private would allow evidence to be given in as "full and candid" a manner as possible.
The privy councillor inquiry will cover July 2001 to July 2009 and former permanent under-secretary of state at the Northern Ireland Office, Sir John Chilcott will act as chair.
The news comes following widespread calls by opposition parties, as well as many Labour MPs, who have called for the inquiry since shortly after the 2003 invasion.
Mr Brown said work will begin next month, and last at least a year.
He also said that with the last UK combat mission over in Iraq, "now is the right time to ensure we have a proper process in place to learn the lessons".
The Premier added: "The inquiry will be fully independent of Government. The scope of the inquiry is unprecedented. It covers an eight-year period.
"The committee will have access to the fullest range of information, including secret information. Their investigation can range across all documents, all papers and all material.
"No British documents and no British witness will be beyond the scope of the inquiry."
However, the PM was jeered by Conservative MPs when he announced it would take a year to report, as this is beyond the date of the next general election.
Tory leader David Cameron accused Mr Brown of announcing an "establishment stitch-up", which was more concerned about the timing of the inquiry, instead of its contents.
"Shouldn't the inquiry have the power to apportion blame? If mistakes were made we need to know who made them and how they were made."
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg added: "I am staggered that the Prime Minister is seeking to compound the error, fatal to so many of Britain's sons and daughters, by covering up the path that led to it."
He added: "He has taken a step in the right direction but missed the fundamental point.
"A secret inquiry, conducted by a clutch of grandees, hand-picked by the Prime Minister, is not what Britain needs."
(JM/BMcC)
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