A further postponement of the long-awaited Chilcot Report into Britain’s role in the Iraq War has drawn accusations of a whitewash. It is unlikely
A further postponement of the long-awaited Chilcot Report into Britain’s role in the Iraq War has drawn accusations of a whitewash.
It is unlikely its findings will be published before the UK’s May general election.
Officially it is to allow those criticised time to respond, but others especially families who have lost loved ones, cite incompetence:
Reg Keys, father of serviceman Tom said:
“I’m bitterly disappointed to be honest.It’s a is a disgrace, because there are a lot of families out there, families of the fallen who’ve been waiting for this report.It is now part of the closure we need.”
Roes Gentle- mother of serviceman Gordon was more angry:
“Of all the mums I’ve spoken too, we all think it is just going to be a whitewash. They’ve got all the documents, everything is basically in front of them and it’s taken so long. It’s making people think what’s actually getting hidden? What’s being kept away from the general public and the families.”
One-hundred-and-seventy-nine British servicemen and women lost their lives in the Iraq war.
The five year delay to the report’s publication has become even more politically charged today as any criticism of the Labour Party which was in power at the time could damage its forthcoming electoral chances, although leader Ed Miliband says he wants the report to be published.