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Iraq probe not ruled out - Blair Iraq probe not ruled out - Blair
(about 1 hour later)
Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the Commons he would not rule out an inquiry into the Iraq war, but "this is not the time" to make the decision.Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the Commons he would not rule out an inquiry into the Iraq war, but "this is not the time" to make the decision.
Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell asked him to clarify his position, after the defence secretary appeared to confirm there would be an inquiry.Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell asked him to clarify his position, after the defence secretary appeared to confirm there would be an inquiry.
On Tuesday the government saw off a cross-party bid by MPs to force an immediate inquiry to be held. On Tuesday, the government saw off a cross-party bid by MPs to force an immediate inquiry to be held.
Mr Blair said such a move would have dismayed Iraqis and their allies. Mr Blair said such a move would have "dismayed" Iraqis and their allies.
A call for an immediate probe proposed by Plaid Cymru and the SNP with support from the Tories and 12 Labour rebels was defeated by ministers on Tuesday. The government won the vote by 298 to 273. During Tuesday's debate, Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett refused to give a firm commitment to an inquiry once troops had left Iraq, saying it would send the wrong signal "at the wrong time" to Iraq.
But afterwards, Defence Secretary Des Browne told the BBC there would be an inquiry "when the time is right". 'Slip of the tongue'
A government source later insisted this had been a "slip of the tongue". But after the vote on holding an immediate inquiry, which the government won by 298 votes to 273, Defence Secretary Des Browne told the BBC there would be an inquiry "when the time is right".
But Mr Browne's comments appeared to confirm hints from ministers and a Downing Street spokesman that an inquiry would be held once troops had left Iraq. It appeared to confirm hints from ministers and a Downing Street spokesman that an inquiry would be held once troops had left Iraq - but was later dismissed as a "slip of the tongue".
'Very long way' We certainly do not rule out such an inquiry, and we say in our own motion that lessons must of course be learnt Tony Blair
The Conservatives supported the SNP/Plaid Cymru motion after the government said it would not support the Tories' own call for an inquiry within the next year. At prime minister's questions on Wednesday, Sir Menzies asked the prime minister to confirm whether or not there would be an inquiry.
Foreign Secretary Margaret Beckett warned that agreeing to either inquiry now would send the wrong signal "at the wrong time" to Iraq. Mr Blair replied: "We certainly do not rule out such an inquiry, and we say in our own motion that lessons must of course be learnt, and it's important always to do that. But this is not the time for such decisions.
"I think that had that motion gone though last night, it would have sent a decision that would have dismayed our coalition allies, it would have dismayed the Iraqi government, it would have heartened all those who are fighting us in Iraq.
"That's why we opposed that motion and why it is important, frankly, that we stand up and we fight those in Iraq who are trying to prevent the democratic process taking root."
HAVE YOUR SAY Instead of being retrospective why not look into what can be done to help Iraq now? Qwerty, UK Send us your comments Key points: Iraq debate In full: Rebel Labour MPsHAVE YOUR SAY Instead of being retrospective why not look into what can be done to help Iraq now? Qwerty, UK Send us your comments Key points: Iraq debate In full: Rebel Labour MPs
Mrs Beckett said there had been four inquiries related to the Iraq war already. She declined calls to give a firm commitment to hold another once UK troops had left the country. Sir Menzies added: "Isn't it now the time for a British strategy based on British priorities and not one which depends on the outcome of the American elections?
But speaking on the BBC's Newsnight programme, Labour MP Denis MacShane said: "I think it will take place... the full government inquiry, when we are out of Iraq and we can analyse in tranquillity all the lessons that need to be learned." "And should that strategy not now be phased withdrawal sooner rather than later?"
'Thumbscrews' Mr Blair replied that British troops were in Iraq, trying to make democracy work, in accordance with a United Nations resolution "and the full support of the Iraqi government."
It was the first full Commons debate on Iraq since July 2004. The Conservatives, who backed the Iraq war, supported the motion put forward by the SNP and Plaid Cymru, after the government refused to confirm that there would be an inquiry within the next year.
The SNP and Plaid Cymru motion called for a committee of seven senior MPs to review "the way in which the responsibilities of government were discharged in relation to Iraq". They favour an investigation similar to the Franks inquiry carried out after the Falklands war, involving former generals and civil servants rather than just MPs
SNP MP Angus MacNeil said after the vote: "The government whips applied the thumbscrews. There is clear unrest in the House of Commons about this issue.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the government had "made a mistake" by not making a firm commitment to hold an inquiry at some point.Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said the government had "made a mistake" by not making a firm commitment to hold an inquiry at some point.
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said it had been a hollow victory for the government, which "was on the defensive throughout". Both the Lib Dems and the SNP said, despite the government win, there remained "deep unease" among MPs.
He said: "Ministers were unconvincing and their backbenchers unconvinced. There is deep unease about Iraq in the House of Commons, which the Prime Minister ignores at his peril."