MSPs: 'Publish Iraq Report'

The Scottish Government will call for the Chilcot Inquiry to be published before the general election during a Holyrood debate today.

Last week, Sir John Chilcot announced that the report into the 2003 Iraq war isn't expected to be published until after the general election in May.

It attracted criticism from all political parties.

Speaking ahead of the debate, Leader of the Scottish Liberal Democrats, Willie Rennie, said:
 
"When I voted in the House of commons in 2009 for the independent Inquiry, the Labour government said the final report would be published within a year. Nearly six years on, it is extremely frustrating that the findings of the Inquiry will not be made public in the coming days and weeks, but potentially months.
 
"Political parties should work together in efforts to secure the Inquiry's publication. In that spirit, Scottish Liberal Democrats will today support the Scottish Government's motion in full.
 
"The public have waited long enough. We need to see a much clearer timetable which is put in the public domain, with strict deadlines and a firm date for publication.
 
"If the findings are not published with a sense of immediacy there is a real danger the public will assume the report is being 'sexed down' by individuals rebutting criticisms put to them by the Inquiry, whether that is the case or not."