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Tories push for Iraq war inquiry Tories lose Iraq war inquiry vote
(about 4 hours later)
The Tories have launched a fresh attempt to force the government into holding an inquiry into the Iraq war. The prime minister has survived a Commons call by the Conservatives for an immediate inquiry into the Iraq war.
Prime Minister Gordon Brown has said there will be an inquiry when it is appropriate, but to hold one now would be a diversion for UK troops. MPs rejected their calls for an independent probe despite support from the Lib Dems and some Labour rebels.
But Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague says "now is the right time" for a probe, before files and e-mails disappear and memories fade. The government's parliamentary majority of 67 was more than halved as it won by 28 votes.
MPs are debating a Tory motion calling for an independent inquiry. Gordon Brown has said there will be an inquiry when it is appropriate, but to hold one now would be a diversion for UK troops serving in Iraq.
The Conservatives are using the fifth anniversary of the start of the war and their opposition-led debate to step up pressure on Mr Brown to hold a probe. Fading memories
Opening the debate, Mr Hague told MPs the government would have no choice but to hold an inquiry if they voted for one. The Conservatives used the fifth anniversary of the start of the war and their opposition-led debate to step up pressure on Mr Brown to hold a full-blown inquiry.
He said he did not regret voting for the US-led invasion in 2003 - but it was "vital" to learn "all possible lessons" from the decisions that led to war and the failures in post war planning. Opening the debate, shadow foreign secretary William Hague said "now is the right time" for a probe, before files and e-mails disappear and memories fade.
He told MPs the government would have no choice but to hold an inquiry if they voted for one.
He said he did not regret voting for the US-led invasion in 2003, but it was "vital" to learn "all possible lessons" from the decisions that led to war and the failures in post-war planning.
There is agreement that an inquiry into the Iraq war will be necessary - the dispute between us does not concern substance but timing David MilibandForeign Secretary Q&A: Iraq War inquiriesThere is agreement that an inquiry into the Iraq war will be necessary - the dispute between us does not concern substance but timing David MilibandForeign Secretary Q&A: Iraq War inquiries
And as it was now "six or seven years" since the key decisions were made, an inquiry was needed now before memories fade. And as it was now "six or seven years" since the key decisions were made, an inquiry was needed before memories faded.
He rejected claims that an inquiry would divert attention from the rebuilding of Iraq as "ludicrous".He rejected claims that an inquiry would divert attention from the rebuilding of Iraq as "ludicrous".
He also rejected the government's argument that it would damage the position of UK troops in Iraq. And he also rejected the government's argument that it would damage the position of UK troops in Iraq.
'Isolated voices'
Mr Hague told MPs: "The truth is that the case for commencing an inquiry of the type or of a similar type to the one we are calling for today has become overwhelming.Mr Hague told MPs: "The truth is that the case for commencing an inquiry of the type or of a similar type to the one we are calling for today has become overwhelming.
"If ministers continue to argue against it they will be isolated voices, holding out against a preponderance of national opinion which embraces every other party and many members of their own. "If ministers continue to argue against it they will be isolated voices, holding out against a preponderance of national opinion which embraces every other party and many members of their own."
"They may be unwilling to embark on something which of course would add to the duties of some of them, but they should not shirk this task because it seems unpleasant, and they should remember that if this inquiry is not established by this administration, it most surely will be by the next one.
"They may be unwilling to act at the behest of the Conservative Party, or the Liberal Democrats, or even of the Fabian Society, but if so, they should go away from this debate and come back in a short time with their own considered proposals.
"Not to do so would be an error of policy, as well as of politics, and not to do so would be to frustrate the wishes not of any one party or faction, but of the British people as a whole."
'Mission not accomplished''Mission not accomplished'
Foreign Secretary David Miliband insisted that an inquiry would be necessary, but not until British troops had finished their work in Iraq.Foreign Secretary David Miliband insisted that an inquiry would be necessary, but not until British troops had finished their work in Iraq.
He said: "There is agreement that an inquiry into the Iraq war will be necessary. The dispute between us does not concern substance but timing." He said: "The dispute between us does not concern substance but timing." He said "most people" would see an inquiry as a "bizarre choice of priority now" given current events in Basra, where the remaining British troops in Iraq are stationed.
He said "most people would see that as a bizarre choice of priority now" given current events in Basra, where the remaining British troops in Iraq are stationed.
He added: "The war itself went better than most people expected but the building of the peace afterwards has gone much worse than people expected.He added: "The war itself went better than most people expected but the building of the peace afterwards has gone much worse than people expected.
"The mission has not yet been accomplished.""The mission has not yet been accomplished."
'Scandal' The Tory motion called for a full inquiry by an independent committee of privy councillors to be established now.
The Tory motion being debated calls for a full inquiry by an independent committee of privy councillors to be established now.
A Liberal Democrat amendment calls for Labour and Tory politicians who backed the invasion to apologise.
The government's majority was almost halved to 35 last June when MPs rejected a similar Conservative motion by 288 votes to 253.The government's majority was almost halved to 35 last June when MPs rejected a similar Conservative motion by 288 votes to 253.
Edward Davey, the Lib Dem foreign affairs spokesman, said his party would vote for the Tory motion later. And a Liberal Democrat amendment called for Labour and Tory politicians who backed the invasion to apologise.
But he said the Tories would stand a better chance of winning if they admitted regret for voting for the war in the first place. Prior to Tuesday's vote, Edward Davey , Liberal Democrat foreign affairs spokesman, said the Tories would stand a better chance of winning if they admitted regret for voting for the war in the first place.
Mr Davey said "we owe an inquiry to the people who have died" in Iraq and delaying it was "nothing short of a scandal".Mr Davey said "we owe an inquiry to the people who have died" in Iraq and delaying it was "nothing short of a scandal".