Blair faces defeat on Iraq war inquiry

[cal04]

Tony Blair is facing the prospect of a Commons defeat on Iraq tomorrow unless he agrees to set up a high-level inquiry into the conflict and the failure to plan for the aftermath of the invasion.

The Conservatives are taking the unusual step of preparing to support a motion tabled by the Scottish and Welsh Nationalists calling for a parliamentary inquiry if the Government fails to promise an investigation after an expected British withdrawal next year.

The motion put down by the SNP and Plaid Cymru will provide the opportunity for the first full debate on Iraq since the invasion three-and-a-half years ago.

It calls for a select committee of seven senior MPs to review events leading up to the invasion and since.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/10/30/wirq130.xml

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Oh well, we'll take the scraps we can get

It's proposing a inquiry to be set up by November next year. Blair, of course, has promised to resign before then. Hell, he'll probably have his memoirs out before the inquiry actually reports. And then we have to consider how 'independent' the inquiry will actually be. With a lot of Labour politicians wanting to cover their arses, and the Tories wanting to justify their support of Labour in the invasion, most politicians, active or retired, will feel a lot of pressure from their parties to go easy. The selection of the committee members will be crucial.