This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8115870.stm

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Tories attack Iraq inquiry 'mess' Tories attack Iraq inquiry 'mess'
(40 minutes later)
Gordon Brown has been accused during a Commons debate of making a "monumental mess" of setting up the Iraq inquiry.Gordon Brown has been accused during a Commons debate of making a "monumental mess" of setting up the Iraq inquiry.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the PM had "set out trying to keep it behind closed doors" and said there were still "serious deficiencies".Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the PM had "set out trying to keep it behind closed doors" and said there were still "serious deficiencies".
But Foreign Secretary David Miliband said the inquiry would deliver "insight and value" and deserved support. But Foreign Secretary David Miliband accused the Tories of "sham outrage" and said the inquiry deserved support.
He said that while it was not a "trial or impeachment" it would be free to "praise or blame whoever it likes".He said that while it was not a "trial or impeachment" it would be free to "praise or blame whoever it likes".
The Conservatives called the debate after Mr Brown told MPs last week the long awaited inquiry would be in private. He has since said it is up to the inquiry's chairman, Sir John Chilcot, to hold some sessions in public if he chooses to. The Conservatives called the debate after Mr Brown told MPs last week the inquiry would be in private.
Amid much criticism he later said it was up to the inquiry's chairman, Sir John Chilcot, to hold some sessions in public if he chose to.
'Utterly cynical''Utterly cynical'
But opposition parties and some Labour MPs are pressing for further assurances.But opposition parties and some Labour MPs are pressing for further assurances.
Opening the debate - which is expected to end with a vote at about 1900 BST - Mr Hague, the shadow foreign secretary, said Mr Brown had talked of improving transparency but had produced proposals for a "secretive, behind-closed-doors inquiry". MPs will vote at about 1900 BST on a Tory motion demanding it be held "whenever possible" in public and calling for its terms of reference to be put to MPs for scrutiny
Opening the debate shadow foreign secretary Mr Hague said Mr Brown had talked of improving transparency but had produced proposals for a "secretive, behind-closed-doors inquiry".
It needs to be comprehensive, independent, not a trial or an impeachment but an effort to learn for the future David MilibandForeign Secretary Brown denies Iraq inquiry U-turn
He added the membership was too restricted while the timing of the inquiry - which is due to report back after the next election - was "utterly cynical and politically motivated".He added the membership was too restricted while the timing of the inquiry - which is due to report back after the next election - was "utterly cynical and politically motivated".
Now an inquiry that is seriously overdue can't get off to a clean start, it will spend a considerable amount of time adjusting its remit William Hague class="" href="/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8114992.stm">Brown denies Iraq inquiry U-turn Since then he said the government had "engaged in a series of climbdowns - a U-turn executed in stages" and had relied on Sir John to announce changes, rather "admit that the government were in the wrong".
He added the PM had offered only "unsure" responses to inquiries about whether evidence would be given on oath. "Now an inquiry that is seriously overdue can't get off to a clean start but will spend an unspecified period of time adjusting its remit - a recipe for confusion rather than clarity," he said.
Since then he said the government had "engaged in a series of climbdowns - a U-turn executed in stages" and had relied on Sir John to announce changes, rather than having a minister return to the Commons "and admit that the government were in the wrong". Franks inquiry
Mr Hague said the reasons the prime minister had given for holding an inquiry in private were "not credible".
"Now an inquiry that is seriously overdue can't get off to a clean start but will spend an unspecified period of time adjusting its remit - a recipe for confusion rather than clarity."
'Not a trial'
The government has pointed out the Conservatives had been asking for a Franks-style inquiry - a reference to the committee that reviewed the Falklands War - which was partly held in private.The government has pointed out the Conservatives had been asking for a Franks-style inquiry - a reference to the committee that reviewed the Falklands War - which was partly held in private.
But Mr Hague said several important elements of the Franks inquiry they had been calling for were "completely missing" from the government's plans while the one most people regarded as "no longer appropriate", holding it in private, was "the very one they chose to continue with". But Mr Hague said several important elements of the Franks inquiry were "completely missing" while the government had chosen to continue with the one most people regarded as "no longer appropriate", holding it in private.
He called for MPs to be allowed to approve the inquiry's terms of reference, saying it was "unfair" to Sir John to leave him to clarify all the terms and rules.He called for MPs to be allowed to approve the inquiry's terms of reference, saying it was "unfair" to Sir John to leave him to clarify all the terms and rules.
It suits the government to have us believe that the inquiry will be mostly in public, but I have my doubts David HeathLiberal Democrats
Senior Tory Sir Michael Ancram also warned the inquiry's remit could end up being so "open and vague" that Parliament was asking Sir John to "do the impossible".
For the government, Mr Miliband told MPs all parties agreed there was a need for an inquiry adding: "It needs to be comprehensive, independent, not a trial or an impeachment but an effort to learn for the future."For the government, Mr Miliband told MPs all parties agreed there was a need for an inquiry adding: "It needs to be comprehensive, independent, not a trial or an impeachment but an effort to learn for the future."
He confirmed it would have access to all Cabinet papers, papers from foreign governments and appeared to confirm it would have access to the original legal advice to cabinet on the legality of the war.He confirmed it would have access to all Cabinet papers, papers from foreign governments and appeared to confirm it would have access to the original legal advice to cabinet on the legality of the war.
But he said it was "right and proper to leave the discretion" on whether evidence should be given under oath, to Sir John.But he said it was "right and proper to leave the discretion" on whether evidence should be given under oath, to Sir John.
However Clare Short, the former Cabinet minister who resigned as a Labour MP over the war and now sits as an independent, and former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said Sir John did not have the power to do so and it would have to be decided by MPs. However Clare Short, the former cabinet minister who resigned as a Labour MP over the war, and former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said Sir John did not have the power to do so and it would have to be decided by MPs.
Ms Short urged a rethink from Mr Miliband, telling him: "It will not be good enough unless evidence is taken under oath." Mr Miliband said the inquiry would deliver "insight and value" and would have "complete freedom to write its own report".
Mr Miliband said it would deliver "insight and value" and deserved support. David Miliband: "It can praise or blame whoever it likes"
It can praise or blame whoever it likes David Miliband
But he said there was a balance to be struck between "speed and confidentiality" and "comprehensiveness and transparency".But he said there was a balance to be struck between "speed and confidentiality" and "comprehensiveness and transparency".
Former former secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind asked him whether, if it wanted to attribute blame, the inquiry should be able to do so. Denying reports it was Tony Blair who had pushed for a closed inquiry, Mr Miliband said the former PM had told a question and answer session last night he had "no problem" answering questions in public.
Mr Miliband replied: "As the prime minister said last week it is not an inquiry that has been set up to establish civil or criminal liability, it is not a judicial inquiry. Asked him whether, if it wanted to attribute blame, the inquiry should be able to do so, Mr Miliband replied: "It is not an inquiry that has been set up to establish civil or criminal liability, it is not a judicial inquiry.
"Everything beyond that is within its remit, it can praise or blame whoever it likes, it is free to write its own report at every stage.""Everything beyond that is within its remit, it can praise or blame whoever it likes, it is free to write its own report at every stage."
'Predominantly public''Predominantly public'
Announcing the long-awaited inquiry into the run-up, conduct and aftermath of the 2003 invasion last week, Mr Brown told MPs it would be held in private for national security reasons. Labour backbencher Gordon Prentice said he was still unclear about how much of the inquiry would be in public.
But, amid criticism from some military figures and Lord Butler, the author of the last report into Iraq, he wrote to Sir John and told him he could hold some public sessions if he chose to. He said a briefing note circulated to Labour MPs had said the inquiry would "sit in private with scope for public events and hearings" - he believed it should have been the other way around.
Mr Miliband said Sir John had already said "as much as possible" should be public.
But for the Liberal Democrats, David Heath demanded to know the criteria for closed sessions.
He added: "It suits the government to have us believe that the inquiry will be mostly in public, but I have my doubts."
The important thing is not to confuse government embarrassment with the national interest Sir Menzies CampbellThe important thing is not to confuse government embarrassment with the national interest Sir Menzies Campbell
Tory leader David Cameron said he wanted guarantees that Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Alastair Campbell [Tony Blair's former press secretary] would give evidence in public. Tory leader David Cameron says Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and Alastair Campbell [Tony Blair's former press secretary] must give evidence in public.
Earlier the prime minister's spokesman indicated Mr Brown would be willing to give evidence in public to the Iraq inquiry if national security considerations are met. Earlier the prime minister's spokesman said Mr Brown would have "no difficulty in giving evidence in public", if national security considerations are met.
"If those considerations concerning national security are met, then of course the prime minister would have no difficulty in giving evidence in public," the prime minister's spokesman said.
Mr Brown has denied making a U-turn in accepting some of the inquiry could be held in public and has said he wanted the inquiry to have "all evidence that is necessary" including confidential material.
Mr Cameron and the Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg have met Sir John to discuss the format of the inquiry.
Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said there should be a "presumption" that Mr Blair and other key figures in the decision to go to war should give evidence in public unless national security interests dictated otherwise.Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell said there should be a "presumption" that Mr Blair and other key figures in the decision to go to war should give evidence in public unless national security interests dictated otherwise.
"The important thing is not to confuse government embarrassment with the national interest," he said."The important thing is not to confuse government embarrassment with the national interest," he said.