END OF IRAQ OPPERATIONS MUST MEAN START OF INQUIRY.

END OF IRAQ OPPERATIONS MUST MEAN START OF INQUIRY.

As UK combat operations in Iraq come to an end today (Thursday) SNP Westminster leader and Defence spokesperson, Angus Robertson MP, called for an inquiry to get underway immediately. Mr Robertson, who visited forces in Iraq, also paid tribute to the military personnel who have served in the conflict.

The SNP have led demands for an inquiry into the Iraq war, and secured the first substantive debate in October 2006 – at that time the vote was narrowly lost by just 25 votes – with 12 Labour rebels. It was backed by all Tories and Liberal Democrats.

Mr Robertson said:

“We all welcome our brave forces home, and pay tribute to their professionalism and courage over the last seven years. Too many of them are not coming home, and our thoughts are with their families at this moment.

“With combat operations now at an end it is time to start the inquiry into this disastrous conflict. The inquiry should get underway right now and not be delayed for another day.

“An inquiry should have been held years ago, not put on ice by the politicians who dragged us into an illegal war on the basis of false information. Labour’s plans for an inquiry to begin post July would mean parliament will be in recess, by autumn everyone will be looking at the economy and Pre-Budget Report, and then it will buried under the General Election.

“By every measurement this has been the biggest foreign policy disaster in modern times, and those responsible for it have never answered the most fundamental questions about why we were led into this mess.

“The claim that the war was about weapons of mass destruction was a blatant lie, a mere cover story unsupported by the facts, which has cost the lives of thousands of civilians and hundreds of our brave soldiers.

“The SNP have been pressing for years on this issue, and the UK Government to tell us the truth right now.”