Iraq War Inquiry
From Democracywiki
Central Lobby
December 2005
On 22 November a cross-party group of MPs tabled an Early Day Motion calling for a parliamentary review of the government's conduct of the Iraq war - before, during and since the 2003 invasion.
The EDM was tabled by Rt Hon Douglas Hogg MP (Conservative, Sleaford and North Hykeham) and sponsored by Alan Simpson MP (Labour, Nottingham South), Rt Hon Sir Menzies Campbell MP CBE (Liberal Democrat, North East Fife) Alex Salmond MP (SNP, Banff and Buchan), Elfyn Llwyd MP (Plaid Cymru, Meirionnydd Nant Conwy) and Rt Hon Kenneth Clarke MP. The motions states:-
'That this House believes that there should be a select committee of seven honourable Members, being members of Her Majesty's Privy Council, to review the way in which the responsibilities of Government were discharged in relation to Iraq and all matters relevant thereto, in the period leading up to military action in that country in March 2003 and in its aftermath.'
The precedent is the Franks Inquiry into the 1982 Falklands war, which had wider terms of reference than the Butler Inquiry. The Government does not see the need for a new Inquiry as there have already been four inquiries into this issue.
