Jeremy Corbyn preparing to call for Tony Blair to be investigated for war crimes

[MikeWB]

Laura Hughes, Political Correspondent

22 May 2016 • 10:00pm

Jeremy Corbyn is preparing to call for Tony Blair to be investigated for war crimes in the wake of a damning Chilcot report into Britain's involvement in the Iraq War, the Telegraph understands.

The former Labour Prime Minister's reputation is expected to be seriously "damaged" by the upcoming Inquiry, according to a senior source who has discussed the report with its authors.

It is understood that Mr Corbyn will not row back from calls he made last year for Mr Blair to stand trial for war crimes if he is found to have broken the law over the 2003 conflict.
Jeremy Corbyn: Chilcot delay 'getting beyond ridiculous' Jeremy Corbyn: Chilcot delay 'getting beyond ridiculous' Play! 00:50

At the time the Labour leader said Mr Blair will have to "explain" his involvement in the Iraq war once the Inquiry is published on 6 July, less than a fortnight after the EU referendum.

A Labour spokesperson said yesterday: "We look forward to the release of the Chilcot report into the Iraq War and reading the evidence he has uncovered ."

They confirmed Mr Corbyn stands by his previous remarks.
Sir John Chilcot Sir John Chilcot Credit: David Cheskin/PA

The report will deliver an "absolutely brutal" verdict on the former Labour prime minister, ex-foreign secretary Jack Straw and the former MI6 boss Sir Richard Dearlove, according to a former government minister quoted in the Sunday Times.
Chilcot Inquiry launched

Asked last year, as a contender for the Labour leadership, if Mr Blair should be charged for war crimes, Mr Corbyn said: "If he's committed a war crime, yes. Everyone who's committed a war crime should be.

"I think it was an illegal war, I'm confident about that, indeed [former UN secretary general] Kofi Annan confirmed it was an illegal war, and therefore he has to explain to that.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn Credit: Steve Parsons/PA

"Is he going to be tried for it, I don't know. Could he be tried for it? Possibly."

Mr Blair has always denied he agreed to support military action months in advance of a vote in the House of Commons in March 2003.

A former UK Government insider with knowledge of Sir John Chilcot's deliberations said: "It will be absolutely brutal for Straw. The build-up to war is very crucial.
Tony Blairs testimony at the Chilcot Inquiry: Five key moments Tony Blairs testimony at the Chilcot Inquiry: Five key moments Play! 02:18

"It will damage the reputations of a number of people, Richard Dearlove as well as Tony Blair and others.

"But there is a second half. The report will say that we really did make a mess of the aftermath."

The section on Britain's withdrawal from Basra in 2007 is said to be "embarrassing" and the report is believed to conclude that the Government did not have "the full picture" ahead of the invasion because of Mr Blair's informal "sofa-style" approach.
Members of the Irish Guard 7th Armour Brigade search an Iraqi man in Basra in 2003 Members of the Irish Guard 7th Armour Brigade search an Iraqi man in Basra in 2003 Credit: GETTY

Speaking last Tuesday during a speech at London School of Economics, Mr Corbyn said: "The Chilcot report will come out in a few weeks' time and tell us what we need to know, what I think we already know: There were no weapons of mass destruction, there was no ability to attack within 45 minutes and a deal had been done with Bush in advance."

The comments refer to suggestion Mr Blair agreed in principle to support an invasion of Iraq in April 2002 during a visit Mr Bush's ranch in Crawford – around a year before the war begun.

Last week reports surfaced that Alex Salmond, the former SNP leader, is sounding out other MPs to reassemble an attempt to impeach Mr Blair after the report is finally published.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/05/22/jeremy-corbyn-preparing-to-call-for-tony-blair-to-be-investigate/