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| Labour government was wrong to invade Iraq, says Tony Blair's former flatmate Lord Falconer | |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Tony Blair was wrong to invade Iraq in 2003, a close friend and ally of the former Labour leader has admitted. | Tony Blair was wrong to invade Iraq in 2003, a close friend and ally of the former Labour leader has admitted. |
| Lord Falconer, former Lord Chancellor and flatmate of Mr Blair, told BBC Scotland the decision to go to was on a false premise had damaged the party. | Lord Falconer, former Lord Chancellor and flatmate of Mr Blair, told BBC Scotland the decision to go to was on a false premise had damaged the party. |
| “I supported the invasion. We didn't find weapons of mass destruction there and that was the basis by which we went in – so on that basis, we weren't right to go in,” he said. | “I supported the invasion. We didn't find weapons of mass destruction there and that was the basis by which we went in – so on that basis, we weren't right to go in,” he said. |
| “That damaged Labour right throughout Scotland and England, but I'm not sure that it necessarily damaged Labour more in Scotland than it did in England." | “That damaged Labour right throughout Scotland and England, but I'm not sure that it necessarily damaged Labour more in Scotland than it did in England." |
| Lord Falconer In 2005, two years after the troops went in, the Labour peer candidly told the Independent Iraq had “brought a climate of distrust into politics”. | Lord Falconer In 2005, two years after the troops went in, the Labour peer candidly told the Independent Iraq had “brought a climate of distrust into politics”. |
| “Iraq has had a profound effect on the whole political climate, it seems to me,” he said at the time. | “Iraq has had a profound effect on the whole political climate, it seems to me,” he said at the time. |
| “The vigour of the debate has to some extent got to a position where because there was such a profound disagreement it has led to people being distrustful of each other.” | “The vigour of the debate has to some extent got to a position where because there was such a profound disagreement it has led to people being distrustful of each other.” |
| Labour leadership candidates were subject to angry questions about the Iraq war at a recent hustings event in Nuneaton hosted by BBC Newsnight – despite the invasion being launched over a decade ago. | Labour leadership candidates were subject to angry questions about the Iraq war at a recent hustings event in Nuneaton hosted by BBC Newsnight – despite the invasion being launched over a decade ago. |
| In 2010 Ed Miliband made it one of his first priorities as newly elected Labour leader to say Mr Blair was wrong to wage the war. | In 2010 Ed Miliband made it one of his first priorities as newly elected Labour leader to say Mr Blair was wrong to wage the war. |
| Mr Blair has never apologised for the invasion nor said he made a mistake. | Mr Blair has never apologised for the invasion nor said he made a mistake. |
| Casualty estimates on the war have varied dramatically but a number of studies have found that it likely caused between 150,000 and 500,000 excess deaths. | Casualty estimates on the war have varied dramatically but a number of studies have found that it likely caused between 150,000 and 500,000 excess deaths. |
| The country is currently engulfed in conflict as the so-called Islamic State militant group sweeps across the north, west, and interior of its territory and captures major population centres. | The country is currently engulfed in conflict as the so-called Islamic State militant group sweeps across the north, west, and interior of its territory and captures major population centres. |
| Lord Falconer is currently Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, having returned to the Shadow Cabinet after the election. | Lord Falconer is currently Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, having returned to the Shadow Cabinet after the election. |