Greg supports calls for public inquiry into Iraq War
June 17, 2009 12:00 AM
Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Newcastle East Greg Stone has criticised the announcement that the Government plans to hold the official inquiry into the Iraq War in private.
The Chilcot Enquiry, due to start next month and expected to sit for a year, is expected to take place behind closed doors.
Reacting, Greg Stone said "The Iraq War was one of the greatest foreign policy disasters in modern British history. It cost the lives of many servicemen and women and many more Iraqi civilians, cost billions, and badly damaged Britain's standing in the international community. It is important that the lessons from it are learnt, that mistakes are not repeated, and that accountability is apportioned".
"It is however of concern that Gordon Brown's commitment to a new standard of openness in politics has lasted mere days before withering away. Clearly some classified military information will need to be heard in secret, but many people will feel that in the interests of transparency the inquiry should be held in public. The national interest demands that the initiation and conduct of the Iraq War should be subject to very thorough scrutiny. We have had enough of dodgy dossiers and whitewash inquiries."
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