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Debate to call for Iraq inquiry Ministers face Iraq debate vote
(about 1 hour later)
The first full debate on Iraq on the floor of the Commons since the invasion three years ago will hear calls for an inquiry into the government's policy. The government could be facing the prospect of a Commons defeat on Iraq, unless it agrees to a wide-ranging inquiry into the war and its aftermath.
The Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru want a select committee of seven senior MPs to review events leading up to the invasion and since. The Conservatives say they might vote with the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru, who have tabled a motion backing a parliamentary investigation.
The motion will be put to a vote at the Commons on Tuesday. Tuesday's debate will be the first full Commons debate on Iraq since the invasion three and a half years ago.
The government will oppose any inquiry and with its majority is almost certain to win. The government has maintained there have been enough inquiries already.
The wording of the debate motion mirrors an Early Day Motion which has been signed by more than 160 MPs of all parties, including 33 Labour, 60 Conservatives and 59 Liberal Democrats. Motion
SNP leader Alex Salmond said "even if the government wins it by a narrow margin - which I think is the reality - then [Tony Blair] would be in a Neville Chamberlain situation where you win the battle but lose the war." It has said that the Hutton Inquiry into the death of government adviser David Kelly, and the Butler Inquiry into the pre-war intelligence were enough.
The motion put forward by the SNP and Plaid Cymru is: "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."
The Conservatives want a broad investigation, similar to the Franks inquiry carried out after the Falklands war, involving former generals and civil servants rather than just MPs.
Rather than an immediate review they want it to be held in the next parliamentary session, when the British presence in Iraq is likely to have been reduced.
Cross-party support
A Conservative spokesman said if the government fails to recognise the importance of a Franks-style inquiry, the party has not ruled out voting with the SNP and Plaid.
The wording of the debate motion mirrors an Early Day Motion which has been signed by more than 160 MPs of all parties, including 32 Labour, 60 Conservatives and 59 Liberal Democrats.
SNP leader Alex Salmond said: "Even if the government wins it by a narrow margin - which I think is the reality - then [Tony Blair] would be in a Neville Chamberlain situation where you win the battle but lose the war."
It offers an opportunity to change strategy and direction on the disastrous course of events in Iraq Alex SalmondSNP leaderIt offers an opportunity to change strategy and direction on the disastrous course of events in Iraq Alex SalmondSNP leader
Mr Salmond said the prime minister had to be held to account not just for the ongoing problems in Iraq, but for going to war in the first place. Mr Salmond said: "This debate offers MPs a second chance - a chance to re-establish parliamentary accountability over an executive who has led the country into a bloody quagmire."
He said: "This debate offers MPs a second chance - a chance to re-establish parliamentary accountability over an executive who has led the country into a bloody quagmire. Plaid Cymru's defence spokesman Adam Price said: "I believe that it is essential for the credibility of our democracy that we establish what combination of deception, delusion and ineptitude carried us down this fateful path."
"It also offers an opportunity to change strategy and direction on the disastrous course of events in Iraq." Liberal Democrat foreign spokesman Michael Moore said: "It is unacceptable that the government has not allotted time to debate this important issue for over two years and that we have had to rely on an opposition day debate before MPs can discuss this in Parliament."
Plaid Cymru's defence spokesman Adam Price said Iraq had become mired in blood. Mr Blair said earlier this month that the issue of Iraq had been raised on numerous occasions in the Commons since 2003. He said there would be further opportunities for debating it during the Queen's Speech debates next month.
"I believe that it is essential for the credibility of our democracy that we establish what combination of deception, delusion and ineptitude carried us down this fateful path," he added. Mr Blair also defended the decision to invade Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein.
Terror 'link' He said it would be a "betrayal" of British forces' sacrifices since 2003, and of Iraq as a whole, if troops pulled out of the country "before the job is done".
Meanwhile, Downing Street has denied that official papers suggesting military action in Iraq is fuelling terrorism in the UK were written by its officials.
The leaked papers demand a "significant reduction in the number and intensity of the regional conflicts that fuel terror activity".
The Sunday Telegraph claims the memo was written by "senior Cabinet officials".