Lib Dems: Need for Iraq inquiry imperative

The Liberal Democrats are tabling bills in both houses of parliament today calling for an immediate inquiry into the war in Iraq.

Gordon Brown has said an inquiry will take place in the future but cannot occur yet because the situation in Iraq remains unstable.

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg attacked the prime minister for that attitude in the Commons yesterday, saying Mr Brown was "the man who signed the cheques for the Iraq war but has never had the moral courage to take responsibility for it".

And today his party demanded both Mr Brown and Conservative leader David Cameron apologise for supporting the war.

Foreign affairs spokesperson Ed Davey said: "Five years after the invasion of Iraq, the death and destruction wrought by this disastrous war ought to compel even the most diehard supporters of the original decision to revise their position.

"Labour and the Conservatives share the blame for this catastrophic foreign policy mistake."