Butler blasts “political” Brown
By Alex Stevenson
The man who chaired a previous inquiry into an aspect of the Iraq war has attacked the government’s “political intentions” in keeping the impending inquiry private.
Robin Butler, who led a review of intelligence failings in the run-up to the 2003 invasion which ousted Saddam Hussein from power, was the latest in a series of figures connected with the war who have attacked Downing Street’s intentions.
“There is no prospect an inquiry conducted entirely in private can purge the national feeling of distrust,” he said, adding: “I don’t find the national security arguments. convincing.”
It follows the prime minister’s announcement the inquiry would be held in private to enable those giving evidence to speak freely and candidly.
Lord Butler of Brockwell explained his inquiry had published confidential documents verbatim and said that, where absolutely necessary, witness sessions could be held in private.
“I reluctantly conclude the form of the inquiry has been dictated more by the government’s political intentions than the national interest,” he added.
Lord Butler concluded by lamenting the lack of cross-party support seen before the Franks inquiry into the Falklands war and warned the government faced defeat on the issue if the Conservatives force a vote on it in the Commons next week.
His contribution came in a debate on the Iraq invasion and lessons for the future, during which many other peers expressed their views about aspects of the invasion and its inquiry.
Lord Steyn, a former law lord, said the government’s view that the invasion was legal was “plainly absurd and wrong”.
Labour’s Lord Anderson insisted the presumption should be for a public hearing. “It was clearly a political judgment which should be judged politically,” he said.
Conservative Lord Lyell of Markyate was concerned by the “long-term damage to perceptions of the office of the attorney-general”.
And Liberal Democrat peer Lord Addington expressed pride in his party’s opposition to the war and pressed that “this was a war of choice. we didn’t have to be there.”
The Butler review concluded that intelligence used to justify the war with Iraq was unreliable.
It found “more weight had been placed on the intelligence than it could bear”, including the claim that Saddam Hussein could deploy weapons of mass destruction within 45 minutes.
