Iraq inquiry 'legitimate source of outrage' |

Tuesday 16th June 2009 | 15:22

Iraq inquiry 'legitimate source of outrage'

Insiders of all parties tend to be critical of the recently announced Iraq war inquiry

The inquiry into the Iraq war announced yesterday tends to be viewed as a ‘legitimate source of outrage’ by majorities of experts and insiders across the political spectrum, according to the latest PoliticsHome insider survey.

The Phi100 daily panel survey provides a snapshot of how Westminster is reacting to the key issues each day. Represented are senior politicians from all the main parties, leading commentators, party strategists and spin doctors, along with think tank heads and academics.

A clear fifty eight per cent majority of the Phi100 feel that the deficiencies of the Iraq inquiry render it a legitimate source of outrage.

This opinion was held on the left and on the right, and was the unanimous verdict of Liberal Democrats.

About a quarter disagree, holding the view that while you can never please everyone, the inquiry is perfectly useful.

Fifteen per cent believe that there is no need to hold an inquiry at all.

Political decision

A left leaning panellist said of the inquiry: ‘It is packed with known supporters of the war and of Tony Blair. And meeting in secret is a classic sign of a Whitehall stitch-up!’

A Lib Dem parliamentarian believed it was: ‘An establishment cover up and hence a complete waste of time.’

A non-aligned media panellist argued: ‘An inquiry will tell us nothing new. The decision to go to war was a political decision.’

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