The former Conservative foreign minister David Davis has warned of “uproar” if the Chilcot report on the Iraq war is not released within a few weeks as he prepares to lead a Commons debate on the topic.
The Chilcot report is due to be handed to government officials on Monday, when national security checks will begin. Davis said there was no reason why the government should not complete the checks and publish the report within a fortnight.
Davis is to lead a backbench debate on Thursday as MPs seek to put pressure on ministers to ensure the long-awaited Iraq inquiry report is published promptly.
Labour MP Paul Flynn, who is supporting the debate, said there was “no excuse” to continue the “sinful and wicked” delay.
There have been suggestions the government could hold back the publication until after the EU referendum.
On Wednesday, Commons Speaker John Bercow criticised the lengthy wait for the report, saying it had become “exceptionally and excessively protracted”.
The Iraq inquiry chairman, Sir John Chilcot, began work more than six years ago but repeated delays have caused outrage among families of soldiers killed in the war.
Davis said: “A lot of the reason it’s delayed already is haggling over what they can and can’t use. If they weren’t security clearing at that time, I don’t quite know what they think they were doing.
“There’s really no argument for it taking any more than two weeks.
“I think we’ll win the battle. If not, frankly, there will be an uproar.”
He said it would be “inexplicable” for the government to delay the publication until after the EU referendum on 23 June.
“I cannot conceive why it should be delayed for that reason – it is inexplicable.
“It’s got no real relevance to Europe at all. Maybe it’s the government not wanting anything to rock the boat whilst this referendum is going on.”
Flynn, the member for Newport West, said: “We all want to get things settled and to be informed and to know the truth about these events which took place, in our lifetimes.
“The delay is sinful, damaging and wicked. The debate will be a chance to get some answers from the government.”
(The Guardian)
