Nick Clegg under pressure after 'illegal war' comment
Anti-war campaigners today called on Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg to follow up on his belief that the invasion of Iraq was illegal by making sure those responsible for the conflict were brought to justice, including Tony Blair.
Mr Clegg voiced his strong opposition to the war as he stood in at the Commons dispatch box for David Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions yesterday.
During an exchange with Labour's shadow justice secretary Jack Straw, who was Tony Blair's foreign secretary when the US-led offensive began, Mr Clegg said: "I'm happy to account for everything we are doing in this coalition Government, which has brought together two parties, working in the national interest to sort out the mess that you left behind.
"Perhaps one day you could account for your role in the most disastrous decision of all, which is the illegal invasion of Iraq."
Andrew Murray, chairman of the Stop The War Coalition, said today: "Nick Clegg has only said from the dispatch box what is common knowledge in every living room across the land - that the Iraq war was illegal.
"The Deputy Prime Minister should now use his authority to ensure that those responsible for this gross breach of international law - Tony Blair above all - are brought to justice.
"Only then can we be assured that such an act of lawless aggression will never be repeated."
Bob Crow, general secretary of the Rail Maritime and Transport union said: "There's no point Nick Clegg talking about illegal wars in Iraq while he is second in command of a Government that is continuing with the futile adventure in Afghanistan that is now sending brave British troops home in body-bags on almost a daily basis.
"If Clegg wants to maintain any credibility he will have to commit the Government to the earliest possible date for the withdrawal of our troops from the chaos of Afghanistan before more lives are needlessly lost."
A Downing Street spokesman insisted Mr Clegg's remarks were not Government policy, adding that the legality of the invasion was currently being studied by the Iraq Inquiry.
Comments
Share your thoughts and debate the big issues
Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
-
Newest first
-
Oldest first
-
Most liked
{{/moreThanOne}}Please be respectful when making a comment and adhere to our Community Guidelines.
You can find our Community Guidelines in full here.
-
Newest first
-
Oldest first
-
Most liked
{{/moreThanOne_p}}Follow comments
Vote
Report Comment
Subscribe to Independent Premium to debate the big issues
Want to discuss real-world problems, be involved in the most engaging discussions and hear from the journalists? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Already registered? Log inReport Comment
Delete Comment
About The Independent commenting
Independent Premium Comments can be posted by members of our membership scheme, Independent Premium. It allows our most engaged readers to debate the big issues, share their own experiences, discuss real-world solutions, and more. Our journalists will try to respond by joining the threads when they can to create a true meeting of independent Premium. The most insightful comments on all subjects will be published daily in dedicated articles. You can also choose to be emailed when someone replies to your comment.
The existing Open Comments threads will continue to exist for those who do not subscribe to Independent Premium. Due to the sheer scale of this comment community, we are not able to give each post the same level of attention, but we have preserved this area in the interests of open debate. Please continue to respect all commenters and create constructive debates.