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'No impediment' to Iraq inquiry Iraq inquiry set up 'after July'
(10 minutes later)
The Conservatives say there is no "reasonable impediment" to a public inquiry into the Iraq war. Ministers have said they will hold an inquiry into the Iraq war as "soon as practically possible" after the bulk of UK troops leave in July.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague told MPs that the process should begin straight away and it was a "grievous error" it had not already started. The government has previously said it would only be prepared to contemplate an inquiry once the involvement of UK troops in combat operations ends.
Foreign secretary David Miliband said ministers were committed to holding an inquiry but not while the UK still had a large troop presence in Iraq.
UK troop numbers will be reduced from 4,100 to 400 by the end of July.UK troop numbers will be reduced from 4,100 to 400 by the end of July.
Mr Miliband said ministers would announce an inquiry as soon as "practically possible" after this date but would not give any details as to when this would happen. The Conservatives say there is no "reasonable impediment" to an immediate inquiry into the war and its aftermath.
Foreign secretary David Miliband said ministers were committed to holding a "comprehensive" inquiry but was not prepared to give any details of when this would happen.
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague told MPs that the process should begin straight away and it was a "grievous error" it had not already started.
'Inconceivable''Inconceivable'
The Conservatives have repeatedly called for a judicial inquiry into Iraq along the lines of the Franks inquiry conducted in the aftermath of the Falklands War.The Conservatives have repeatedly called for a judicial inquiry into Iraq along the lines of the Franks inquiry conducted in the aftermath of the Falklands War.
With the bulk of UK troops set to leave within months and the security and political situation in Iraq "substantially improved", Mr Hague said was "inconceivable" that an inquiry could not happen.With the bulk of UK troops set to leave within months and the security and political situation in Iraq "substantially improved", Mr Hague said was "inconceivable" that an inquiry could not happen.
The time to focus on an official inquiry is when the troops come home to safety, not when they are exposed to dangers in Iraq David MilibandThe time to focus on an official inquiry is when the troops come home to safety, not when they are exposed to dangers in Iraq David Miliband
The inquiry must look into how ministers "discharged their responsibilities" in the run-up to the war, Mr Hague said,The inquiry must look into how ministers "discharged their responsibilities" in the run-up to the war, Mr Hague said,
Other areas that must be examined included the use of intelligence, how the UK dealt with the US and other allies and why planning for post-war Iraq was so inadequate.Other areas that must be examined included the use of intelligence, how the UK dealt with the US and other allies and why planning for post-war Iraq was so inadequate.
Mr Hague said opposition to an inquiry within the government had "evaporated" and many Labour MPs backed a move.Mr Hague said opposition to an inquiry within the government had "evaporated" and many Labour MPs backed a move.
He expressed concerns ministers were contemplating a "more limited" inquiry than most MPs and the British public expected.He expressed concerns ministers were contemplating a "more limited" inquiry than most MPs and the British public expected.
He also suggested that ministers may want to delay an inquiry for as long as possible so that its findings would not be published until after the next general election.He also suggested that ministers may want to delay an inquiry for as long as possible so that its findings would not be published until after the next general election.
If Labour did not set up an inquiry, the Conservatives would do it as one of its "first acts" should it win the next election.If Labour did not set up an inquiry, the Conservatives would do it as one of its "first acts" should it win the next election.
"We will learn the necessary lessons and what went wrong in the functioning of government itself," Mr Hague said."We will learn the necessary lessons and what went wrong in the functioning of government itself," Mr Hague said.
Mr Miliband said the UK's "sole focus" was on ensuring a "smooth and effective conclusion" to the UK's combat operation in Iraq.Mr Miliband said the UK's "sole focus" was on ensuring a "smooth and effective conclusion" to the UK's combat operation in Iraq.
"The time to focus on an official inquiry is when the troops come home to safety, not when they are exposed to dangers in Iraq," he told MPs."The time to focus on an official inquiry is when the troops come home to safety, not when they are exposed to dangers in Iraq," he told MPs.
However, he said any inquiry would be "comprehensive" and look at the conduct of the war and its aftermath.However, he said any inquiry would be "comprehensive" and look at the conduct of the war and its aftermath.
Two inquiries - the Hutton and Butler inquiries - have already been held into aspects of the Iraq war.Two inquiries - the Hutton and Butler inquiries - have already been held into aspects of the Iraq war.