Iraq War Inquiry — Declines to make a proposal — 25 Mar 2009 at 15:51

The majority of MPs voted against holding a further inquiry into the Iraq war at this time but to agree a time will come when an inquiry is appropriate.

The majority of MPs voted for the motion, which read:^[1]

• This House
• notes the Resolutions of this House of 31 October 2006,^[2] 11 June 2007^[3] and 25 March 2008^[4] on an Iraq inquiry;
• recognises the heroic efforts of the British armed forces in Iraq who have a continuing role which this House should be careful not to undermine;
• further recognises that a time will come when an inquiry is appropriate, but
• declines to make a proposal for a further inquiry at this time, whilst important operations are underway in Iraq to support the people and government of Iraq.

(The Prime Minister's Spokesman had insisted that he thought it was okay to make an announcement on when troops would return, but continue to stonewall the announcement of an inquiry whilst the Armed Forces were still operational in Iraq.)^[5]

This replaced a motion that was rejected in the previous vote.

• [1] David Milliband MP, House of Commons, 25 March 2009
• [2] Iraq - Select committee inquiry - rejected, House of Commons Division], 31 October 2006
• [3] Iraq Inquiry, House of Commons Division, 11 June 2007
• [4] Iraq Inquiry - Not the right time, House of Commons Division, 25 March 2008
• [5] PMS Morning press briefing, 18 December 2008

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