Government attacked for blocking anniversary debate on war

A cross party group of MPs has criticised the Government for apparently blocking a debate on the Iraq War, 10 years after it started.

By The Newsroom

Published 16th Mar 2013, 00:01 BST

The group has written a strongly-worded letter to Parliamentary authorities, saying the public has a right to hear from MPs on the controversial decision to invade in March 2003.

MPs including the Green Party’s Caroline Lucas, former Liberal Democrat leader Charles Kennedy, Conservative Rory Stewart, and Labour’s Paul Flynn, said it pitched for a Parliamentary debate via the Backbench Business Committee.

But although it was agreed in principle, the Government has refused to make the time available.

In a letter to the Leader of the House Andrew Lansley, signed by Ms Lucas, Mr Kennedy and Mr Flynn, the group said the public had a right to know more about the process that led to the UK’s involvement in the war.

Ms Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion, said Britain owed a debt to all those who lost their lives to carefully examine what happened to prevent the same mistakes.