The refusal of No.10 to countenance an inquiry into the origins, handling and aftermath of the Iraq War even after announcing the withdrawal of virtually all of the 4,100 British troops currently there, and even perhaps after they have returned home by July 2019, shows how unaccountable Governments can become after major disaster that have become deeply embarrassing. But there are still ways in which it can be made to happen.

There are three options to reverse this intransigence. Since there is a substantial number of Labour MPs who believe that such an inquiry should now take place as a matter of priority, over 5 years after the war-fighting finished, they could table a motion stipulating the sort of inquiry they would like, and then see if the Tories or Liberals will give time for debate, with a vote at the end of the debate.
A second option would be for a group of senior Labour Back-Benchers to form a delegation to see the Prime Minister and make clear to him that they propose to lead a call in the House for such a debate to be tabled as a matter of urgency, now that Britain’s involvement in the Iraq conflict is rapidly coming to a close.
A third option, if this approach to the Prime Minister were rebuffed, would be for Parliament itself to take the initiative and set up its own inquiry even if the Government declined to do so. First there is ample precedent for this from Victorian times, but secondly there is ever justification for doing so when in fact it is the Government’s policies and actions that are being investigated and the Government should hardly be both judge and jury in its own cause.
Moreover, Parliamentary action of this kind would serve two further purposes. It would prompt Parliament at last to get off its knees and begin to hold the Executive seriously to account. Second, it would overcome the very real problem, if such an inquiry were indeed held, as to who should choose the chairman, the members and the terms of reference. It should unquestionably be Parliament, not No.10.

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