IRAQ RETURNS TO HAUNT LABOUR

IRAQ RETURNS TO HAUNT LABOUR

APPEAL FOR LABOUR CANDOUR AS CHILCOT RESUMES

As the Chilcot Inquiry into the Iraq war resumes after a
four-and-a-half-month break, SNP Westminster leader and Defence
spokesperson Angus Robertson MP appealed, with the general election
now passed, for witnesses called from the previous Labour government
to give evidence with total candour.

Mr Robertson said:

“With considerations of the general election passed, witnesses called
from the previous Labour government can and must now speak with total
frankness in the evidence they give.  Iraq was symbolic of how Labour
can't be trusted and it has now returned to haunt them.

“Labour’s leadership contenders have already distanced themselves from
this disastrous war, despite defending it while in office until just a
few weeks ago. I hope we will see similar candour when former
Ministers give their evidence in the weeks ahead.

“Getting to the truth behind this disastrous war is infinitely more
important than protecting Tony Blair and Gordon Brown’s legacy.

“The Iraq war has been the single biggest foreign policy disaster in
modern times.  The UK was led to war on a lie about weapons of mass
destruction and hundreds of our brave troops and countless civilians
have paid the ultimate price for this deception.”