Gordon Brown Must Appear Before The Iraq Inquiry - Before The Election

The Iraq War was the biggest foreign policy decision made by a British Prime Minister since Suez. Its botched execution and a disastrous failure to 'win the peace' also made it was also one of the biggest foreign policy catastrophes since Suez.

I am in awe of the bravery and brilliance of our brave troops who have served us in Iraq and Afganistan. I am deeply saddened by the fact that our brave troops have been let down by poor leadership and poor planning from the Government.

It is now clear that Gordon Brown was intimately involved both in the decision to go to war and in the failure to ensure that post war plans were even close to adequate.

Evidence to the Iraq War Inquiry so far has made Brown's role quite clear. He was not the semi detached observer of events that he likes to portray himself as. Instead, he was a key player in the decisions around Iraq.

It is right that all of the key players in the decision to go to war are being called before the Iraq inquiry. As one of these key players, Gordon Brown must also be called to give evidence before the inquiry. And this should happen before the General Election. Gordon Brown should not be able to let political expediency and electoral timing prevent him appearing before the inquiry.