A FORMER Worcester MP has said there was never a timetable for Sir John Chilcot’s Iraq War inquiry findings to be published and said the date was ‘not the issue.’
Speaking to the Observer, Michael Foster, Labour MP for the city from 1997 until 2010, said it was more important to learn lessons from the conflict in Iraq, rather than focusing on a ‘deadline’ for publication.
His comments come as pressure mounts on Sir John Chilcot to publish the findings of his inquiry, which was set-up in 2009 by Gordon Brown.
The inquiry looked into the UK’s role in the conflict by listening to evidence from military officials, civil servants and leading politicians, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair.
“The most important thing from Chilcot will be to learn the lessons from the inquiry so that future actions of any government are informed about what worked well and what didn’t,” Mr Foster said.
“Obviously, the sooner the inquiry reports the sooner we can learn those lessons.
Last week, the inquiry chief faced calls to announce a timetable for publication four years after the final witnesses gave their evidence.
Mr Foster lost his seat in the 2010 general election to current MP Robin Walker, after representing the city for 13 years and serving in the Labour government as an assistant whip and then as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for International Development.
Mr Foster, who voted in favour of the Iraq War, questioned whether the publication has been delayed due to those who have been criticised in the report, but said criticism will be published no matter when the report is released.
“If Chilcot thought the report was deliberately being delayed I am sure he would make it clear who is holding it up.
“For those involved and subject to questioning, any delay is immaterial because the same criticism will come whether in one week’s time or six weeks.
“What is paramount is that we learn from the events in the build up to the Iraq invasion and events afterwards. To me, that is the purpose of the Chilcot inquiry,” he said.
