Civil servants accused of ‘Iraq inquiry cover-up’

By politics.co.uk staff Civil servants prevented an Iraq inquiry witness revealing how the government failed to consider available alternatives to military action, it has been claimed. Carne Ross, Britain’s Iraq expert at the United Nations in the run-up to the 2003 invasion, said he had been denied access to “key documents” he had worked on […]

Clegg’s Iraq jibe fuels coalition tensions

By politics.co.uk staff Nick Clegg risked alienating his coalition partners as he attacked the Iraq war as “illegal” in his first ever prime minister’s questions. No 10 quickly distanced itself from the statement. The Conservatives voted with Labour MPs to back the invasion seven years ago, while the Liberal Democrats opposed it. “I do not […]

Afghan exit ‘could begin next year’

By Alex Stevenson British forces could start being withdrawn from Afghanistan next year, the government has confirmed. Speaking after talks with Barack Obama in the White House, Mr Cameron said British soldiers could follow American troops’ planned withdrawal from as early as July 2011. Deputy prime minister Mr Clegg then made clear to MPs that […]

UK pressures Karzai at Kabul conference

By Alex Stevenson William Hague has demanded the Afghan government makes quicker progress in tackling corruption as the Kabul conference gets underway. The foreign secretary backed president Hamid Karzai’s proposal to be given more control over aid spending in the country in return for intensified training of Afghan security forces. Under Mr Karzai’s plans the […]

Afghanistan aid boost confirmed

By Alex Stevenson Details of how the 40% increase in Britain’s aid spending on Afghanistan have been unveiled by the government, as the motivation for the shift begins to be questioned by critics. International development secretary Andrew Mitchell is spending the day touring some of the projects in and around Kabul which the extra money […]

Leak reveals Afghanistan 2014 withdrawal plan

By politics.co.uk staff British troops could be removed from the frontline in Afghanistan in 2014, a year earlier than planned, a leaked document has suggested. Extracts from a draft communiqué for the forthcoming Kabul conference, to be attended by figures including US secretary of state Hillary Clinton and foreign secretary William Hague, were published in […]

Afghanistan in line for more UK aid

By politics.co.uk staff Britain is set to nearly double its aid spending to Afghanistan, according to reports. International development secretary Andrew Mitchell said he had “in principle” identified a 40% increase from the current £500 million budget as donors prepare for the Kabul conference on Afghan development coming this week. He told the BBC’s Politics […]

Mandelson turns his eye to Blair’s Iraq folly

By politics.co.uk staff Blair became simplistic in his thinking as the Iraq war took its toll on him, Peter Mandelson has said. In the latest part of his memoir to be serialised in the Times, the former business secretary and architect of New Labour recounted a story in which Mr Blair lashed out at him […]

Hooding legal challenge gets go-ahead

By Alex Stevenson The government could face multiple judicial reviews from Iraqi civilians who allege they were hooded while being detained by British forces. Last week prime minister David Cameron revealed to MPs the guidance issued to British personnel on how to deal with detainees held by other countries. Separate guidance covering torture more generally […]

British forces to make Sangin withdrawal

By politics.co.uk staff British forces are to withdraw from the Sangin area of Afghanistan, defence secretary Liam Fox has told the Commons. The British-controlled area of the country, where fighting with the Taliban has seen 99 deaths since 2001, is dominated by heavy opium production and complex rivalries between different tribes. For much of the […]