Iraq — Weapons of Mass Destruction Inquiry — 4 Jun 2003 at 16:31

The majority of MPs voted against an independent inquiry into the handling of intelligence on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction. A replacement motion noted the Intelligence and Security Committee is the appropriate body to carry out any inquiry.

The majority of MPs voting voted against the motion:[1]

  • This House
  • recalls the Prime Minister's assertion that Iraq possessed weapons of mass destruction capable of being used at 45 minutes' notice;
  • further recalls the Government's contention that these weapons posed an imminent danger to the United Kingdom and its forces;
  • notes that to date no such weapons have been found; and
  • calls for an independent inquiry into the handling of the intelligence received, its assessment and the decisions made by ministers based upon it.

A new motion was proposed in its place:[2]

  • This House:
  • believes that the Intelligence and Security Committee[3] established by Parliament is the appropriate body to carry out any inquiry into intelligence relating to Iraq; and
  • notes in relation to Iraq's disarmament obligations the terms of United Nations Security Council Resolution 1483[4]

And this passed without a vote.

Debate in Parliament | Historical Hansard | Source |

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Party Summary

Votes by party, red entries are votes against the majority for that party.

What is Tell? '+1 tell' means that in addition one member of that party was a teller for that division lobby.

What are Boths? An MP can vote both aye and no in the same division. The boths page explains this.

What is Turnout? This is measured against the total membership of the party at the time of the vote.

PartyMajority (No)Minority (Aye)BothTurnout
Con1 137084.7%
DUP4 0080.0%
Independent0 10100.0%
Independent Conservative0 10100.0%
Lab290 (+2 tell) 11073.9%
LDem0 44 (+2 tell)086.8%
PC0 40100.0%
SNP0 50100.0%
UUP6 00100.0%
Total:301 203078.4%

Rebel Voters - sorted by party

MPs for which their vote in this division differed from the majority vote of their party. You can see all votes in this division, or every eligible MP who could have voted in this division

Sort by: Name | Constituency | Party | Vote

NameConstituencyPartyVote
Patrick CormackSouth StaffordshireCon (front bench)no
Mr Harry BarnesNorth East DerbyshireLabaye
Harry CohenLeyton and WansteadLabaye
Jeremy CorbynIslington NorthLabaye
Mr Tam DalyellLinlithgowLabaye
Kelvin HopkinsLuton NorthLab (minister)aye
Glenda JacksonHampstead and HighgateLabaye
Robert Marshall-AndrewsMedwayLabaye
Mr Brian SedgemoreHackney South and ShoreditchLabaye
Alan SimpsonNottingham SouthLabaye
Mr Llew SmithBlaenau GwentLabaye
Robert WareingLiverpool, West DerbyLabaye

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