Edward Leigh elicits promise of Iraq War inquiry later this year from David Miliband

Gainsborough MP Edward Leigh was one of the few Conservative MPs who voted to oppose the Iraq War.

During a debate in the Commons on Iraq, he has just intervened on Foreign Secretary, David Miliband, seeking a promise that there would be a full inquiry into the Iraq War "as soon as practicable after 31st July".

Mr Miliband's reply was a simple "Yes".

According to PoliticsHome, he went on to say:

"The time to focus on an official inquiry is when the troops return to safety... we are talking about combat troops, not every troop."

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4.30pm Update: Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague has issued the following reaction:

“At last the Foreign Secretary has announced that the Government will set up a full Privy Council inquiry into the Iraq war when our troops come home at the end of July. This should have been done long ago. It is alarming that by setting a date of 31st July, when Parliament will have adjourned for the summer, the Government are now dragging out the setting up of an inquiry until the autumn.  This is unacceptable.
 
“We now call on the Government to ensure that the inquiry is announced before the summer recess, that its remit is set out in a statement to Parliament and that without any further delay the Leader of the Opposition and Privy Councillors in Opposition parties are consulted about establishing the Inquiry.”

Jonathan Isaby

Comments

[Victor, NW Kent]

After 31st July is sufficiently vague. We have the summer holiday of 84 days, then the party conference season, a few days back and half-term and then the Queen's speech and Christmas, more hols.

So it can safely be deferred until February and Labour would ensure that it didn't report until after the General Election next May. In any case the scope of the enquiry will be set so narrowly as to make it pointless.

[Malcolm Dunn]

What have these people got to hide? British troops have not been in combat for months.
Previous enquiries have taken place whilst troops were still in theatre ie Singapore, Falklands etc.
I simply don't believe Milliband's answer.

[jon dee]

What have these people got to hide?

A great deal. A wide range of politicians and apparatchics are dreading the approach of a proper Iraq enquiry.

Would that Dr David Kelly have been able to witness it.

[Patrick Harris]

Dan would have obtained the enquiry by tomorrow at the latest.
Bring on Dan the MAN.

[Comstock]

COMMENT OVERWRITTEN

[snegchui]

I wonder if the simple "Yes" is an indication of an early election and a trap for the Tories, who on current percentages, will be in power and be responsible for the conduct of this inquiry.
In view of the much sorting out of the economy and the majority of the talent and focus going that way, what priority will this inquiry be to a new Govt?