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Iraq war report delay ‘immensely frustrating’, says Cameron Iraq war report delay ‘immensely frustrating’, says Cameron
(about 3 hours later)
David Cameron has expressed frustration that the Chilcot report on the Iraq war is being held up by those on the receiving end of criticism, even though the document is “largely finished”.David Cameron has expressed frustration that the Chilcot report on the Iraq war is being held up by those on the receiving end of criticism, even though the document is “largely finished”.
The prime minister came under fire from two MPs in the House of Commons about the long-running inquiry as they demanded to know why Downing Street is not forcing through the publication.The prime minister came under fire from two MPs in the House of Commons about the long-running inquiry as they demanded to know why Downing Street is not forcing through the publication.
Cameron said he found it “immensely frustrating” but Sir John Chilcot was in charge of when the report is submitted and the inquiry was currently taking responses from government bodies and high-profile public figures that had been criticised.Cameron said he found it “immensely frustrating” but Sir John Chilcot was in charge of when the report is submitted and the inquiry was currently taking responses from government bodies and high-profile public figures that had been criticised.
“The report is largely finished but in every report like this there is a process where you have to write to the people criticised and give them a response … It is not within my power to grant the publication of this report,” Cameron said.“The report is largely finished but in every report like this there is a process where you have to write to the people criticised and give them a response … It is not within my power to grant the publication of this report,” Cameron said.
Aides subsequently suggested Cameron’s reply means he wants government departments that may criticised – the Foreign Office, intelligence agencies and government law officers – not to further delay the publication by rowing over the contents of the report.Aides subsequently suggested Cameron’s reply means he wants government departments that may criticised – the Foreign Office, intelligence agencies and government law officers – not to further delay the publication by rowing over the contents of the report.
Former Labour prime minister Tony Blair has denied he is to blame for the delays in the publication of the Chilcot report. Along with Jack Straw, then foreign secretary, and government departments, he will almost certainly face criticism in draft passages of the report he has been shown. Under the “Maxwellisation” process, they are entitled to respond to any proposed criticism of their conduct.Former Labour prime minister Tony Blair has denied he is to blame for the delays in the publication of the Chilcot report. Along with Jack Straw, then foreign secretary, and government departments, he will almost certainly face criticism in draft passages of the report he has been shown. Under the “Maxwellisation” process, they are entitled to respond to any proposed criticism of their conduct.
The inquiry was set up in 2009 with the intention of reporting within six months but the Guardian reported on Tuesday that the report is very likely to be delayed until after the election as it would be too politically sensitive after the end of February.The inquiry was set up in 2009 with the intention of reporting within six months but the Guardian reported on Tuesday that the report is very likely to be delayed until after the election as it would be too politically sensitive after the end of February.
Given that the election campaign has effectively begun, any publication even before then could prompt complaints from Labour about the potential for it to be politically advantageous to other parties. However, it could also have given Ed Miliband an opportunity to stress that he, unlike Cameron, opposed the war. Once the report has been submitted by Chilcot, the prime minister will decide when to make it public.Given that the election campaign has effectively begun, any publication even before then could prompt complaints from Labour about the potential for it to be politically advantageous to other parties. However, it could also have given Ed Miliband an opportunity to stress that he, unlike Cameron, opposed the war. Once the report has been submitted by Chilcot, the prime minister will decide when to make it public.
Many senior Conservatives are critical of the delays. Speaking in the House of Commons, Sir Peter Tapsell said it was “absolutely well known by the cognoscenti that it was completed many months ago”. He wanted to know whether the cabinet secretary, Chilcot or the White House was causing the delays.Many senior Conservatives are critical of the delays. Speaking in the House of Commons, Sir Peter Tapsell said it was “absolutely well known by the cognoscenti that it was completed many months ago”. He wanted to know whether the cabinet secretary, Chilcot or the White House was causing the delays.
Plaid Cmyru’s Westminister leader, Elfyn Llwyd, said he was “very, very concerned about the inordinate delay” and it should be published when it is ready, as long as parliament is sitting, regardless of the election. Plaid Cymru’s Westminister leader, Elfyn Llwyd, said he was “very, very concerned about the inordinate delay” and it should be published when it is ready, as long as parliament is sitting, regardless of the election.
On Tuesday, former Conservative foreign secretary Lord Hurd said the way the inquiry was dragging on had gone beyond questions of mere negligence and forgivable delay. “It is becoming a scandal,” he told peers. “This is not something of trivial importance. It is something of which a large number of people in this country look anxiously for truth.”On Tuesday, former Conservative foreign secretary Lord Hurd said the way the inquiry was dragging on had gone beyond questions of mere negligence and forgivable delay. “It is becoming a scandal,” he told peers. “This is not something of trivial importance. It is something of which a large number of people in this country look anxiously for truth.”
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Dykes described the continuing delay as an “utter and total disgrace”. He added: “More and more people think it is some kind of attempt to prolong the agony for Mr Blair facing possible war crimes charges.”Liberal Democrat peer Lord Dykes described the continuing delay as an “utter and total disgrace”. He added: “More and more people think it is some kind of attempt to prolong the agony for Mr Blair facing possible war crimes charges.”
However, Cabinet Office minister Lord Wallace said the inquiry was completely independent of the government and it was up to Chilcot to decide when to submit the report to Cameron.However, Cabinet Office minister Lord Wallace said the inquiry was completely independent of the government and it was up to Chilcot to decide when to submit the report to Cameron.
Wallace said the government had decided it would be inappropriate to publish the report before the election, if it was submitted after the end of February, because of the commitment to allow time for “substantial consultation and debate”. The government has “committed that if this is not available for publication by the end of February, it will be held back until after the election,” he said.Wallace said the government had decided it would be inappropriate to publish the report before the election, if it was submitted after the end of February, because of the commitment to allow time for “substantial consultation and debate”. The government has “committed that if this is not available for publication by the end of February, it will be held back until after the election,” he said.
It is widely assumed in government circles that Chilcot will not be in a position to submit his report by the end of February deadline.It is widely assumed in government circles that Chilcot will not be in a position to submit his report by the end of February deadline.
Wallace confirmed that after years of disputes with successive cabinet secretaries, and discussions with Washington, Chilcot had agreed to a settlement whereby summaries, and “the gist”, of more than a hundred records of conversations between Blair and George Bush in the runup to the invasion, and of records of 200 cabinet discussions, would be published, but not the documents themselves.Wallace confirmed that after years of disputes with successive cabinet secretaries, and discussions with Washington, Chilcot had agreed to a settlement whereby summaries, and “the gist”, of more than a hundred records of conversations between Blair and George Bush in the runup to the invasion, and of records of 200 cabinet discussions, would be published, but not the documents themselves.
Wallace told peers: “We all regret the delay. But this is not unusual for inquiries of this sort.”Wallace told peers: “We all regret the delay. But this is not unusual for inquiries of this sort.”
Referring to other long-running inquiries, he said the Chilcot investigation looked at nine years of British policy and operations in Iraq, so it was not entirely unexpected that it had taken such a long time. He said Cameron had not intervened at any point over publication.Referring to other long-running inquiries, he said the Chilcot investigation looked at nine years of British policy and operations in Iraq, so it was not entirely unexpected that it had taken such a long time. He said Cameron had not intervened at any point over publication.