Normally whenever someone mentions Iraq in the House of Commons, the Chamber descends into a grouchy scrap. But today’s statement on the Chilcot report from David Cameron and the questions that followed it were surprisingly measured and thoughtful.
As James notes, Jeremy Corbyn didn’t mention Tony Blair, and he didn’t give a furious response to the Prime Minister, either. Of course, his analysis of the report wasn’t comfortable for many Labour MPs – indeed, Ian Austin shouted from the backbenches that his party leader was a ‘disgrace’. But he did not call for Blair to stand trial, and neither did he rant at length about the failings of the West.
Neither did other MPs, all of whom seemed keen to talk more about the weaknesses of the Downing Street and Whitehall machines that led to the mistakes detailed in the report published today. There was less finger-pointing across the Chamber than might have been expected too, with some of those who voted against the action at the time saying that it was a close call. This may well have been because of the tone set by the Prime Minister, who himself told the Chamber ‘members on all sides who voted for military action will have to take our fair share of the responsibility’.
Of course, some MPs argued that Blair must take responsibility or be held to account in some way for his decision. He has been trying to do both this afternoon in a lengthy press conference about the report. But interestingly, MPs seem now to be as keen to talk about how Whitehall has changed and still needs to change that some of the mistakes around planning and ministerial discussions can never be repeated. Perhaps they have learned a lesson not just from the war itself, but from the way the political debate about the war has been conducted too.
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