Chamber
Meeting of the Parliament 29 January 2015
29 Jan 2015 · S4 · Meeting of the Parliament
Item of business
Chilcot Inquiry
No, thank you.
It has become clear that the Iraqi people were let down by a failure of post-war planning and that the price in lives lost was far too high.
We have a duty to learn lessons because we owe that to our service personnel—not just those who gave their lives defending us, but those who continue to defend us every day. I hope that, as well as debating the past, the Parliament and the Scottish Government can find more time to debate and deal with the many problems that veterans who live in Scotland face.
We all hope for fresh insights and understanding when Chilcot reports, but I hope—perhaps naively—that, as with previous inquiries, those who call loudest for the report’s publication are not also the first to claim that it is a whitewash. The report is an opportunity for deeper understanding, not for rerunning political arguments of a decade ago. In an increasingly complex middle east, we surely need that.
In the same item of business
The Presiding Officer (Tricia Marwick)
NPA
Good afternoon. The first item of business is a debate on motion S4M-12182, in the name of Nicola Sturgeon, on the Chilcot inquiry.
The First Minister (Nicola Sturgeon)
SNP
I begin with a reminder of the gravity of the subject that we are debating. The United States-led and United Kingdom-backed invasion of Iraq in 2003 began wi...
Alex Fergusson (Galloway and West Dumfries) (Con)
Con
I do not believe for a minute that the publication date of the Chilcot inquiry’s report is among the top 10 concerns of the Scottish people, but I strongly b...
Kevin Stewart (Aberdeen Central) (SNP)
SNP
We know the history of obstruction and delay. What I am most concerned about is that the delay affects families who have faced the death of their loved ones ...
Alex Fergusson
Con
Nor do I, but I do not think that it helps Allan Douglas’s family, or anybody else who has been involved in the process, to publish the report before the due...
Mark McDonald (Aberdeen Donside) (SNP)
SNP
I am upset that the member seems to think that this is simply about politicians. Kevin Stewart raised the case of the Douglas family, who live in the same co...
Alex Fergusson
Con
Not for one minute have I suggested that this is not about people, and I reject the inference. People will be best served by a proper inquiry that has undert...
Kezia Dugdale (Lothian) (Lab)
Lab
The Chilcot inquiry report should be published as soon as possible. Today’s motion could have been agreed while saving debating time in the chamber for matte...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will Ms Dugdale give way?
Kezia Dugdale
Lab
No, thank you. It has become clear that the Iraqi people were let down by a failure of post-war planning and that the price in lives lost was far too high....
Mark McDonald
SNP
Will the member give way?
Kezia Dugdale
Lab
No, thank you. It is clear that there is a thirst for democracy across the middle east, but as that has created hope it has uncovered competing interests an...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will Ms Dugdale give way?
Kezia Dugdale
Lab
No, thank you. A sustainable peace between the Israeli people and the Palestinian people seems as far off as ever in the region. Petro-economies are struggl...
Mark McDonald
SNP
Will the member give way?
Kezia Dugdale
Lab
No, thank you. Little wonder world affairs commentators have a new acronym for the region: BAD, which stands for broken, angry and dysfunctional. What matt...
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will Ms Dugdale give way?
Kezia Dugdale
Lab
No, thank you. Whatever side of the argument we were on 10 years ago, we should all unite around a vision for the middle east with human rights, the rule of...
The Presiding Officer
NPA
We now move to the open debate. Speeches should be four minutes long, but we have some time in hand if interventions are taken. 14:22
Joan McAlpine (South Scotland) (SNP)
SNP
Today, the First Minister reminded us of the words that Prime Minister Gordon Brown used when he launched the Chilcot inquiry. He promised that it would help...
Willie Rennie (Mid Scotland and Fife) (LD)
LD
This is yet another occasion on which my party and the First Minister’s party have been united on the issue of Iraq. I am sure that she was as disappointed a...
Christina McKelvie (Hamilton, Larkhall and Stonehouse) (SNP)
SNP
The most important keyword in this whole debate is transparency. Why is that? Because there is none. The Westminster establishment has abandoned even a sembl...
Neil Bibby (West Scotland) (Lab)
Lab
I welcome the opportunity to contribute to the first Government business debate that Nicola Sturgeon has brought forward as First Minister. As Kezia Dugdale ...
Bruce Crawford (Stirling) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
Neil Bibby
Lab
Sorry, I do not have time. The people of Iraq cannot afford to have their current needs lost in the discussion of those past mistakes. We know that the conf...
Jim Eadie (Edinburgh Southern) (SNP)
SNP
The debate goes to the heart of one of the greatest issues to have faced the United Kingdom in modern times, for there can be no graver decision than that of...
James Kelly (Rutherglen) (Lab)
Lab
I support the Government’s motion, and specifically its call for the report to be published as early as possible. However, I agree with the sentiment that so...
Gil Paterson (Clydebank and Milngavie) (SNP)
SNP
Will the member give way?
James Kelly
Lab
No, thank you.
Kevin Stewart
SNP
Will the member give way on that point?