Downing Street Says

Asked whether the Government thought that British military personnel serving in Iraq were serving there illegally, the Prime Minister’s Spokesman (PMS) told the assembled press that the Coalition Government did not have a specific view on the legality of the Iraq War. The Iraq Inquiry was looking at a range of issues including the legal basis for going to war.

The PMS added that the comments made by the Deputy Prime Minister at PMQs today, were his long-held personal views.

Put that the Government did not have a view on whether the Iraq War was legal or illegal, the PMS replied that the Government had not expressed a view. The Government was waiting for the outcome of the Iraq Inquiry.

Asked if the Deputy Prime Minister spoke on behalf of the Government, the PMS replied that in this instance he was making remarks that reflected his long-held views.

On whether the Deputy Prime Minister was speaking as the leader of the Liberal Democrats in this instance, the PMS replied that he was.

Put that if that was the case, how were people meant to distinguish between when the Deputy Prime Minister was speaking on behalf of the Government or speaking as the leader of the Liberal Democrats, the PMS said that the Deputy Prime Minister was entitled to express his own view at the dispatch box.

Asked what the legal basis was of our continuing presence in Iraq, the PMS advised people to check with the FCO.

On whether the Prime Minister was concerned that the Deputy Prime Minister had pre-judged the outcome of the Iraq Inquiry, the PMS said that the Chilcot Inquiry was looking at a broad range of issues regarding the basis for Iraq conflict. It was looking at the legal basis as well as the lessons that could be learnt and the Government was looking forward to that report.

When asked if the Prime Minister would discourage others from expressing their view on the war and therefore applying pressure on the Inquiry, the PMS said that the Prime Minister was looking forward to seeing the report from the Chilcot Inquiry.

Asked if the Prime Minister had spoken to the Deputy Prime Minister today on the issue, the PMS replied that she was not aware of any conversation.

Asked again if the Government had a view on whether the Iraq War was legal or not, the PMS said that she was unaware of a particular expression on the legality of the Iraq War. The Chilcot Inquiry was looking at the legal basis of entering into the conflict and we were awaiting that report.

Put that the Government was waiting for the outcome of the Inquiry in order to form a view on the legality of the Iraq War, the PMS replied that the Government had not commented on the legality or illegality of the Iraq War up to this point. The Deputy Prime Minister was repeating his long-held views.

Asked whether the Deputy Prime Minister should be expressing his own views at the dispatch box, while standing in for the Prime Minister, the PMS said the Deputy Prime Minister was entitled to do so.

Asked if it would routinely be the case that the Deputy Prime Minister would deputise for the Prime Minister at PMQs, the PMS said that that was the precedent that had been set today.

Put that the Deputy Prime Minister had been talking about the invasion of Iraq in 2003 and if Chilcot did conclude that the invasion was illegal, would the Government need to cope with legal actions against troops, the PMS advised people not to get ahead of themselves.

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» Wednesday, July 21, 2010

Iraq war

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