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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Iraq war report 'delayed until after UK election' | Iraq war report 'delayed until after UK election' |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The official inquiry into the 2003 Iraq War will not publish its long-awaited report before the general election, the BBC understands. | The official inquiry into the 2003 Iraq War will not publish its long-awaited report before the general election, the BBC understands. |
| The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot is expected to confirm in a letter to David Cameron that it will be delayed until after May's poll. | The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said inquiry chairman Sir John Chilcot is expected to confirm in a letter to David Cameron that it will be delayed until after May's poll. |
| The inquiry began its work in 2009 and held its last public hearing in 2011. | The inquiry began its work in 2009 and held its last public hearing in 2011. |
| Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the delay was "incomprehensible". | Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said the delay was "incomprehensible". |
| And the Liberal Democrat leader said that the public would assume the delay was caused by those criticised in the report attempting to "sex it down". | And the Liberal Democrat leader said that the public would assume the delay was caused by those criticised in the report attempting to "sex it down". |
| The inquiry has been looking into the reasons for the UK's involvement in the 2003 US-led invasion which toppled Saddam Hussein and the aftermath of the conflict, which saw UK troops remain in Iraq until 2009. | The inquiry has been looking into the reasons for the UK's involvement in the 2003 US-led invasion which toppled Saddam Hussein and the aftermath of the conflict, which saw UK troops remain in Iraq until 2009. |
| MPs have demanded that the report be published before voters go to the polls on 7 May. | MPs have demanded that the report be published before voters go to the polls on 7 May. |
| Right to respond | Right to respond |
| However, Nick Robinson said the process of giving witnesses time to respond to allegations against them, which began last autumn, cannot be completed in time for this to happen. | However, Nick Robinson said the process of giving witnesses time to respond to allegations against them, which began last autumn, cannot be completed in time for this to happen. |
| He said he expected Sir John to set out the reasons why the report could not be completed in time, a development first reported by the Guardian, on Wednesday. | He said he expected Sir John to set out the reasons why the report could not be completed in time, a development first reported by the Guardian, on Wednesday. |
| Ministers had made it clear that the report would have to be finished by the end of February to allow enough debate on its contents before Parliament rises at the end of March ahead of the election. | Ministers had made it clear that the report would have to be finished by the end of February to allow enough debate on its contents before Parliament rises at the end of March ahead of the election. |
| Mr Cameron has spoken of his "immense frustration" at the progress of the inquiry but said that its work is independent and it would be wrong of him to intervene. | Mr Cameron has spoken of his "immense frustration" at the progress of the inquiry but said that its work is independent and it would be wrong of him to intervene. |
| Although the inquiry has never publicly set a deadline for publication, it has been plagued by delays with lengthy wrangling over what declassified documents can be included in the final report. | Although the inquiry has never publicly set a deadline for publication, it has been plagued by delays with lengthy wrangling over what declassified documents can be included in the final report. |
| The inquiry reached an agreement last summer with the UK government in which it would be allowed to refer to the "gist" of conversations and private correspondence between former Prime Minister Tony Blair and US President George W Bush. | |
| 'Incomprehensible' | 'Incomprehensible' |
| Mr Blair, one of more than 100 witnesses to have appeared before the inquiry, has insisted he is not responsible for the delays and wants the report to be made public as soon as possible. | |
| But Mr Clegg said that the country "could not wait any longer" if the findings were to be relevant to British foreign policy. | But Mr Clegg said that the country "could not wait any longer" if the findings were to be relevant to British foreign policy. |
| "The public have waited long enough and will find it incomprehensible that the report is not being published more rapidly than the open-ended timetable you have now set out," he said. | "The public have waited long enough and will find it incomprehensible that the report is not being published more rapidly than the open-ended timetable you have now set out," he said. |
| "We need to see a much clearer and more defined timetable, known publicly, with strict deadlines and a firm date for publication. | "We need to see a much clearer and more defined timetable, known publicly, with strict deadlines and a firm date for publication. |
| "If the findings are not published with a sense of immediacy, there is a real danger the public will assume the report is being "sexed down" by individuals rebutting criticisms put to them by the inquiry, whether that is the case or not." | "If the findings are not published with a sense of immediacy, there is a real danger the public will assume the report is being "sexed down" by individuals rebutting criticisms put to them by the inquiry, whether that is the case or not." |
| Critics have long accused Alastair Campbell, Mr Blair's director of communications in the run-up to the invasion, of "sexing up" a 2002 dossier outlining the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's regime, claims he vehemently rejected when giving evidence to the inquiry. | Critics have long accused Alastair Campbell, Mr Blair's director of communications in the run-up to the invasion, of "sexing up" a 2002 dossier outlining the threat posed by Saddam Hussein's regime, claims he vehemently rejected when giving evidence to the inquiry. |
| 'Explanation needed' | 'Explanation needed' |
| Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin said Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood will be questioned about the inquiry when he appears before MPs on the Public Administration Select Committee next week. | Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin said Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood will be questioned about the inquiry when he appears before MPs on the Public Administration Select Committee next week. |
| "I think we all thought this was coming," Mr Jenkin said. "It just had that smell about it, didn't it? I think we deserve an explanation." | "I think we all thought this was coming," Mr Jenkin said. "It just had that smell about it, didn't it? I think we deserve an explanation." |
| While a serious matter, Mr Jenkin said he did not believe the delay was an "election issue". | While a serious matter, Mr Jenkin said he did not believe the delay was an "election issue". |
| "Some people are very exercised about it," he said. "It is the third inquiry on an Iraq-related matter. I'm more anxious that lessons are learned from that conflict, from the Afghan conflict as much as anything else." | "Some people are very exercised about it," he said. "It is the third inquiry on an Iraq-related matter. I'm more anxious that lessons are learned from that conflict, from the Afghan conflict as much as anything else." |
| Sir Jeremy, who has the final say over the declassification of documents relating to the war, said last year that the final report would tell the "whole story" about the UK's involvement. | Sir Jeremy, who has the final say over the declassification of documents relating to the war, said last year that the final report would tell the "whole story" about the UK's involvement. |
| A Labour spokesman said: "Labour established the Chilcot Inquiry because it is crucial we learn the lessons of Iraq. | |
| "While the timing is a formal matter for Sir John Chilcot we have always said the inquiry should report as soon as practically possible." | |
| Former Lib Dem Home Office minister Norman Baker said a backbench debate on the inquiry will still go ahead on Thursday next week. | |
| The motion - sponsored by Mr Baker, David Davis, Fabian Hamilton and Caroline Lucas - calls for the inquiry to publish its findings by 12 February. | |
| Mr Baker said: "It is deeply concerning that John Chilcot has apparently decided he cannot published his report before the election. | |
| "The British people are entitled to know what was done in their name before 7 May. The debate in a week's time must continue and in many ways becomes even more important." |