Rebel MP wants inquiry on Iraq war

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Rebel MP wants inquiry on Iraq war

Maverick MP Bob Marshall-Andrews

A prominent MP has urged the Government to agree to an independent inquiry into the Iraq war.

Bob Marshall-Andrews, Labour MP for Medway, called for the official investigation during an Opposition Day debate in the House of Commons on Tuesday evening.

Mr Marshall-Andrews, who has consistently voted and spoken out against the war, said the inquiry was “urgent and necessary” as there is no defined exit strategy.

He said: “What is victory in this war? We had a victory four years ago and it is a gloomy symbiosis that the fourth anniversary of that victory marked the death of the 4,000th US serviceman in Iraq.

“He will not be the last; and nor will our next casualty be our last.”

Calls for an inquiry were led by William Hague, Conservative Shadow Foreign Minister, who received strong support from the Liberal Democrats.

Mr Marshall-Andrews made a lengthy speech during the debate, which ended with a strong moral argument for an inquiry.

He said: “If I did believe in judgement day - and particularly if I was a Catholic - and if I had been responsible for the deceit and duplicity that led to the slaughter in Iraq, I would be saying my Ave Marias as fast as diction would allow.

“It may be a pity that I do not believe in the final judgement, as I should like to be there to see it.

"However, I believe that we here must arrive at a quicker judgement, and that we, the British people and those who have suffered as a result of our actions, are entitled to that judgement sooner - much sooner - than later.”

Speaking at the end of the debate, Foreign Secretary David Miliband said there was agreement that an inquiry into the Iraq war would be necessary, but only once “our troops have finished their work in Iraq”.

He added: “The opposition have said that the time for such an inquiry is now - on the GMTV programme this morning [William Hague] said, “Now is the right time”.

“Given today’s reports from Basra, most people would see that as a bizarre choice of priority.”