MPs unite behind motion demanding formal parliament investigation into Blair Iraq “deception”.
A CROSS-PARTY motion in the House of Commons to investigate former prime minister Tony Blair’s conduct in the run-up to the Iraq War in 2003 has received the backing of MPs from seven political parties.
The parliamentarians state that the gap between Blair’s public statements before the war and private correspondence revealed by Chilcot showed a “calculated and deliberate deception” of parliament.
They are seeking a formal parliamentary investigation which could have consequences for Blair including removal of honours and future privileges.
“At a time when Blair is planning his political comeback, it is high time that this parliament and its committees at long last brought this dark stain on UK foreign policy to a close.” Alex Slamond
The motion reads: "the Chilcot Inquiry provided substantial evidence of misleading information being presented by the then Prime Minister and others on the development of the then government's policy towards the invasion of Iraq…” and calls on the committees of the house to investigate and take appropriate action.
The SNP motion has been backed by MPs from across Westminster including Kate Hoey of Labour, Sir Roger Gale and Sir David Amess for the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats, Caroline Lucas of the Green Party, Hywel Williams and Liz Saville-Roberts of Plaid Cymru and the SDLP.
Debate on the motion this afternoon (30 November) follows an additional report by Cambridge academic Glen Rangwala, who analysed various aspects of the 2003 invasion. In his report he focused on the UK’s attitude towards regime change in Iraq, the evidence for weapons of mass destruction and the exhaustion of diplomatic routes. The motion itself also follows the Chilcot report, which after seven years of investigation came to the conclusion that intelligence used to justify the military action was “deeply flawed”.
Alex Salmond MP, the SNP’s international affairs spokesperson, said: “MPs from parties from across the House of Commons have put their political differences aside in a stand to call for parliament to investigate the extent to which this House was held in such blatant contempt.
“Blair’s premeditated and calculated commitment to Bush that “I will be with you whatever” will forever ring loud for the millions who marched against the war, to the families of dead soldiers and to hundreds of thousands of Iraqis who lost their lives, due to an illegal invasion based on deception and deceit.
“At a time when Blair is planning his political comeback, it is high time that this parliament and its committees at long last brought this dark stain on UK foreign policy to a close by investigating how such grave misleading occurred and taking the appropriate action to avoid it happening again.”
Picture courtesy of eddye cyote
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