The Inquiry on WMD does not go far enough

6.00.00pm GMT Tue 3rd Feb 2004

Commenting in response to the Prime Minister's confirmation today that the government is to establish and independent inquiry into British intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction, Annette Brooke MP for Mid Dorset and North Poole said:

"I am pleased that the government has conceded the lack of WMD in Iraq however, I am disappointed by the terms of reference established for the inquiry."

"The Hutton Inquiry remit was very narrow and did not look at the issues surrounding the wider reasons for going to war -this inquiry will not address broader issues, including the political decisions and judgements made by the government that led to the invasion of Iraq."

"I regret that there will be no Liberal Democrat MP on the Committee but I believe that the remit of this inquiry is too narrow. It is simply not acceptable that the inquiry will be confined to Weapons of Mass Destruction and the security and intelligence services. There are further questions to be answered, including political decision making in the government. Scepticism in this government by will not be lessened by this inquiry. Even the Foreign Affairs Select Committee has concluded recently that the Iraq war has increased the security threat on the UK."

"I actually challenged the Prime Minister about the progress in the search for Weapons of Mass Destruction on 2 July last year. Even then the Prime Minister remained convinced that the 1,200 strong Iraq Survey Group would uncover WMD. Now we know that they have found nothing."

"I am disappointed that the government still insists that it was right to invade Iraq, when the main decision for going to war was based on the belief in the existence of WMD in Iraq."

"Liberal Democrats opposed the war, and have constantly and consistently challenged the government on the decisions made at the time."