Debates between Lord Austin of Dudley and Andrew Murrison during the 2015-2017 Parliament

Report of the Iraq Inquiry

Debate between Lord Austin of Dudley and Andrew Murrison
Wednesday 13th July 2016

(7 years, 11 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Andrew Murrison Portrait Dr Murrison
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I am following the hon. Gentleman’s remarks very carefully. Does he accept that many of us here do not doubt that Tony Blair did not lie to the House, but that that is a pretty low test? The challenge is really whether he acted in a way that came anywhere close to competence. Chilcot clearly thinks that Tony Blair was incompetent, and that is the charge before him. The hon. Gentleman seems to be suggesting that the Iraq war was in some way a success; manifestly, it was not.

Lord Austin of Dudley Portrait Ian Austin
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I said earlier that, clearly, mistakes were made after the invasion. But let us be honest; the charge that is made against Tony Blair and the Government of the time is of falsification and misuse of intelligence, and of wilfully misleading this House and the rest of the country. That is what people are saying, and I think the Chilcot report proves beyond doubt that none of those charges is true.