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Ministers face Iraq inquiry vote Ministers face Iraq inquiry vote
(about 1 hour later)
The government could be facing the prospect of a Commons defeat if it refuses to hold a wide-ranging inquiry into the Iraq war and its aftermath. The government is facing the prospect of a Commons defeat if it refuses to announce a wide-ranging inquiry into the Iraq war and its aftermath.
The Conservatives say they might vote with the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru, who have tabled a motion backing a parliamentary investigation.The Conservatives say they might vote with the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru, who have tabled a motion backing a parliamentary investigation.
Tuesday's debate will be the first full Commons debate on Iraq since July 2004.Tuesday's debate will be the first full Commons debate on Iraq since July 2004.
Tony Blair's spokesman has made clear the government would not hold an inquiry while troops are in Iraq.Tony Blair's spokesman has made clear the government would not hold an inquiry while troops are in Iraq.
He said the enemy was looking for signs of weakness and said it was important not to give any signal that the UK was less than fully determined to see the job through.He said the enemy was looking for signs of weakness and said it was important not to give any signal that the UK was less than fully determined to see the job through.
MotionMotion
Ministers have said in the past that the Hutton Inquiry into the death of government adviser David Kelly, and the Butler Inquiry into the pre-war intelligence were enough. Ministers have 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 motion put forward by the SNP and Plaid Cymru calls for a committee of seven senior MPs to review "the way in which the responsibilities of government were discharged in relation to Iraq" from the build-up to the March 2003 invasion and its aftermath.
The Conservatives favour a different, broader investigation, similar to the Franks inquiry carried out after the Falklands war, involving former generals and civil servants rather than just MPs. Whatever one's view about the rights and wrongs of the invasion of Iraq, it's very important to learn about what's happened since then William Hague
The Conservatives favour a different 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.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 Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said if the government announced a Franks-style inquiry, the Conservatives would abstain from voting on Tuesday.
But a Conservative spokesman said if the government failed to recognise the importance of a Franks-style inquiry, the party had not ruled out voting with the SNP and Plaid. 'Hearts and minds'
Shadow foreign secretary William Hague said: "We are not asking for such an inquiry to be established immediately - only a commitment that one will be established eventually, before this time next year. But if not, they would put the government "under increased pressure" to do so, by voting with the SNP and Plaid.
"A responsible government should want all possible lessons to be learned from the efforts to bring order and reconstruction to Iraq and should not be afraid of giving these issues the most searching examination." "Most of us supported the invasion of Iraq and many of us still consider it was the right thing to do... but this is a separate issue," he told the BBC.
He said it was important to look at what has happened since the invasion, from the successful elections, to the failure to reconstruct Iraq's economy or win the "hearts and minds" of its people.
It is essential ... that we establish what combination of deception, delusion and ineptitude carried us down this fateful path Adam Price Plaid Cymru
"Whatever one's view about the rights and wrongs of the invasion of Iraq, it's very important to learn about what's happened since then," he said.
The wording of Tuesday's debate 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.The wording of Tuesday's debate 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."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 leader Plaid Cymru's defence spokesman Adam Price said it was essential to "establish what combination of deception, delusion and ineptitude carried us down this fateful path."
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."
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."
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."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."
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.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.
Mr Blair also defended the decision to invade Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein.Mr Blair also defended the decision to invade Iraq and remove Saddam Hussein.
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".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".
A defeat in the vote would be embarrassing for the Government but would not mean they have to begin an inquiry.
* You can watch the debate, which is expected to start at about 1530 GMT, live on the BBC News website. There will be a link to the coverage on this page.