The Iraq War Inquiry must not be seen as "an establishment stitch-up"

David Cameron today called on the Prime Minister to take steps to ensure the Iraq war inquiry is not seen as "an establishment stitch-up".

With no public sessions planned, and with the Inquiry itself not due to report back until after the next General Election, David said people may conclude that the Government want to ensure that they do not have to "face up to any inconvenient conclusions".

He went on to raise questions over the range of people conducting the Inquiry, pointing out that the military experience is limited and that senior politicians "from all sides of the political divide" are not currently included.

David also said it was "extraordinary" that the Prime Minister has said the inquiry "should try to avoid apportioning blame".

Referring to the Franks inquiry that followed the Falklands war, David said:

"Before the Franks Inquiry there was a proper debate on the terms of reference of the Inquiry on a substantive motion in the House of Commons."

And he added:

"This time there's just a statement and no debate. Yet last Wednesday the Prime Minister promised us a new era of Parliamentary accountability and democratic renewal. What happened to that? It hasn't even lasted a week."