This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-34014601
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Iraq Inquiry: Lord Morris says PM could 'pull plug' on Chilcot inquiry | Iraq Inquiry: Lord Morris says PM could 'pull plug' on Chilcot inquiry |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The prime minister could step in and "pull the plug" on the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war, Tony Blair's former attorney general has said. | |
| Lord Morris of Aberavon said the inquiry committee was a "disgrace" for delaying its report, and parliament could vote to force it to publish. | Lord Morris of Aberavon said the inquiry committee was a "disgrace" for delaying its report, and parliament could vote to force it to publish. |
| Chairman Sir John Chilcot has previously written to the PM to say he cannot set a timetable for publication. | Chairman Sir John Chilcot has previously written to the PM to say he cannot set a timetable for publication. |
| The independent inquiry was set up in 2009 and was meant to report in 2011. | The independent inquiry was set up in 2009 and was meant to report in 2011. |
| It was commissioned by the Labour government under Gordon Brown to investigate the background to UK involvement in the Iraq War, which began when Tony Blair was prime minister in 2003. | It was commissioned by the Labour government under Gordon Brown to investigate the background to UK involvement in the Iraq War, which began when Tony Blair was prime minister in 2003. |
| 'Not served well' | 'Not served well' |
| British forces lost 179 personnel during the conflict, of whom 136 were killed in action. | British forces lost 179 personnel during the conflict, of whom 136 were killed in action. |
| Tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians died during the conflict, and many were also killed later as a result of sectarian attacks and a violent insurgency. | Tens of thousands of Iraqi civilians died during the conflict, and many were also killed later as a result of sectarian attacks and a violent insurgency. |
| Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Lord Morris said families of those killed, and the public, had waited for "an unfair amount of time" for its findings, and were "not served well". | Speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme, Lord Morris said families of those killed, and the public, had waited for "an unfair amount of time" for its findings, and were "not served well". |
| He said the prime minister "could pull the plug if parliament gives a decision". | He said the prime minister "could pull the plug if parliament gives a decision". |
| "It's parliament ultimately that is the guardian of independence, if an inquiry of this kind shows no sign of resolving itself. | "It's parliament ultimately that is the guardian of independence, if an inquiry of this kind shows no sign of resolving itself. |
| "The prime minister has said repeatedly he's lost patience, the Chancellor has said he's lost patience - but there they are wringing their hands, and parliament hasn't had a debate in months and months on this issue." | |
| 'Significant progress' | 'Significant progress' |
| Much of the anger over the delay is focused on the so-called "Maxwellisation" process, which gives the opportunity to individuals facing possible criticism in the report to respond. | Much of the anger over the delay is focused on the so-called "Maxwellisation" process, which gives the opportunity to individuals facing possible criticism in the report to respond. |
| Sir John has said he is making "significant progress", but is still awaiting responses. | Sir John has said he is making "significant progress", but is still awaiting responses. |
| But Lord Morris, who was chief legal adviser in Tony Blair's first administration from 1997 until 1999, said "Maxwellisation" could not be "elevated as a doctrine to the exclusion of the need of the public to know". | But Lord Morris, who was chief legal adviser in Tony Blair's first administration from 1997 until 1999, said "Maxwellisation" could not be "elevated as a doctrine to the exclusion of the need of the public to know". |
| However, fellow peer Lord Butler, chairman of the 2004 review which found that intelligence used to justify the invasion of Iraq was flawed, warned against rushing the inquiry. | However, fellow peer Lord Butler, chairman of the 2004 review which found that intelligence used to justify the invasion of Iraq was flawed, warned against rushing the inquiry. |
| "People have got to have confidence in it that it is right. All reasonable speed is the thing and where people would make a mistake is setting up an artificial timetable," he told the Daily Telegraph. | "People have got to have confidence in it that it is right. All reasonable speed is the thing and where people would make a mistake is setting up an artificial timetable," he told the Daily Telegraph. |
| The delay in publication of the Chilcot inquiry, which has cost £10 million to date, has been a growing source of frustration for Prime Minister David Cameron. He has demanded a timetable for publication be set out "pretty soon". | The delay in publication of the Chilcot inquiry, which has cost £10 million to date, has been a growing source of frustration for Prime Minister David Cameron. He has demanded a timetable for publication be set out "pretty soon". |
| Chancellor George Osborne has also said the public were "running out of patience" - but in response to a question in parliament he indicated that the government would not step in. | Chancellor George Osborne has also said the public were "running out of patience" - but in response to a question in parliament he indicated that the government would not step in. |
| The Chilcot inquiry was "completely independent of government and we do not determine when it publishes its conclusions", he said. | The Chilcot inquiry was "completely independent of government and we do not determine when it publishes its conclusions", he said. |