Chilcot inquiry: Politicians react after publication of Iraq War report

Politicians saw the report as a damning indictment of former Prime Minister Tony Blair

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair (Reuters)

The findings of Sir John Chilcot's report into the Iraq war are a damning indictment of Tony Blair and the British government's actions, politicians have said.

The report found Mr Blair had convinced himself there were weapons of mass destruction, even though secret intelligence reports he had been showed "did not justify" his certainty.

Responding to the report, Mr Blair said it should "lay to rest allegations of bad faith, lies or deceit".

This is how politicians reacted to the report's publication:

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon wrote on Twitter: "#Chilcot damning. War not last resort, based on flawed, unchallenged intel and unsatisfactory legal decisions."

Ms Sturgeon said the revelation Tony Blair had told George Bush "I'll be with you whatever" in 2002, "suggests pre-determination and lack of proper decision making".

She also said the lack of preparation for the aftermath of the conflict and the failure to properly equip and support troops was "appalling".

Green MP Caroline Lucas said the report "nails" the "lie that invasion was necessary".

"Diplomacy had not been exhausted," she added.

Footage posted on Twitter also showed Ms Lucas telling campaigners the report "confirms all your worst fears".

Natalie Bennett, leader of the Green Party, wrote: "We thought it, now we know it. Iraq War based on lies & deception.

"It was illegal, indefensible. Now we must say #neveragain".

Prime Minister David Cameron told the House of Commons: "Taking the country to war should always be a last resort and should only be done if all credible alternatives have been exhausted.

"Britain must not and will not shrink from its role on the world stage, or fail to act to protect its people."

Conservative MP James Heappey, who was previously a serving officer in Iraq with 4th Battallion The Rifles, wrote: "So why was I really in Basra?"

Shadow Business Secretary John Trickett, an ally of Jeremy Corbyn, wrote: "I voted against the unconvincing case for war but even I am shocked at the comprehensive failures revealed by Chilcot. #devastating"

Commentators said Mr Blair's response to the report was as "divorced from reality as the case he made for war in the first place," while another said it "shreds every aspect of the Iraq decision: the way it was planned, justified and executed".