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UK News

Former Christian defence secretary critical of delayed Iraq inquiry

The publication of the Chilcot Inquiry is being delayed because people who're criticised in it need more time to respond. The findings of the inquiry, which was set up over 6 years ago, will now be released after the general election.

The Christian MP raised concerns the electorate would continue to remain in the dark over how Britain's major foreign policy decisions were made,  in yet another parliament, speaking on Premier's News Hour, he said: "It is a very major and important document, in terms of how we conduct foreign policy and how it's been conducted in the past.

"And I think that voters will be equally angry that they're not going to be able to see the conclusions before they cast their ballots," he added.

Meanwhile, an associate of the Christian think tank Ekklesia says the announcement that the report into the Iraq war will not be published until after May's general election is very disappointing.

Symon Hill said he wasn't surprised by the news that the Chilcot Inquiry had been delayed again but added the British people have 'a right to know' its contents as soon as possible.

The chair of the Inquiry, Sir John Chilcot, said "very substantial progress" had been made in completing the six-year investigation but it will not be possible to publish it before May.

In a letter to the Prime Minister he said there was now agreement on the details from conversations between former PM Tony Blair and US president George Bush that could be published in the report.

He added his team intended to "finish our work as soon as it is possible to do so, whilst being fair to all those involved", but stressed there is "no realistic prospect" that would be before the election.

The report is looking into the circumstances and the lead up to the Iraq war in 2003 that injured or killed hundreds of thousands of people.

Mr Hill told Premier: "I'm very disappointed but I have to say not at all surprised by yet another delay to the Chilcot Inquiry.

"It's an issue that matters massively, whatever view you take of the Iraq war.

"The British people, the Iraqi people and everyone else has a right to know what went on in the run up to the decision to join with US forces in invading Iraq."

Liam Fox, MP:

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