31st October 2006
War supporter Benn seeks to delay Iraq enquiry indefinitely
In a performance which would embarrass his “Old Labour” parents and turn the stomachs of anyone who thought he might have one tenth of his father’s moral backbone, International Development Secretary Hilary Benn (aspirant deputy leader of the New Labour party) has rejected calls for an immediate enquiry into the decision making which led to our attack on Iraq.
In an interview on Radio 4’s lunchtime news programme today, Benn said that there should only be an enquiry “When circumstances are right” and that to have an enquiry now “wouldn’t provide support to our troops” (as if leaving them bogged down in the quagmires of Iraq and Afghanistan were doing them some kind of favour).
The process of “International Development” seems to have been widened by young Benn. It now appears to include the murder of thousands of Iraqi civilians, support for illegal wars and helping his mate the Prime Minister avoiding proper scrutiny into his deception.
Listen to Benn’s interview by clicking the logo.
First full Iraq debate for over 2 years, calls for a proper enquiry…
Plaid Cymru (Plaid) and the Scottish National Party (SNP) are using their opposition day (Tuesday October 31st) to discuss the war and put forward their motion calling for a parliamentary inquiry.
More than 150 MPs have already signed the early day motion calling for a committee of seven MPs to “review the way in which the responsibilities of government were discharged in relation to Iraq and all matters relevant thereto”.
Brian Haw’s marathon protest in Parliament Square filled
the moraility gap left by most MP’s. Who will vote for an
impartial enquiry, who will vote to keep the public in
the dark and who won’t even care enough to turn up?
Reports suggest up to 50 Labour MPs are prepared to defy the government and the Conservatives have also said they may vote with the nationalists. The Tories – which backed the decision to go to war in March 2003 – is currently pushing for a committee of independent privy councillors to investigate the war’s origins and aftermath, to begin its investigations by next November at the latest.
The full text of the motion is as follows
“That this House believes that there should be a select committee of seven honourable Members, being members of Her Majesty’s Privy Council, to review the way in which the responsibilities of government were discharged in relation to Iraq and all matters relevant thereto, in the period leading up to military action in that country in March 2003 and in its aftermath.”
Here is a selection of press coverage after the vote which was lost by 25 votes:
Here are some links to press coverage before the vote
For a full list of how every MP voted, visit the Public Whips Office.
You can watch Parliamentary debates live on www.parliamentlive.tv
