MPs publish Blair impeachment report

PRESS STATEMENT - BLAIR IMPEACHMENT - PRESS STATEMENT

Embargoed until: 2pm Thursday, 26 August 2004 

MPs publish Blair impeachment report

Matrix Chambers QC instructed to prepare motion for impeachment

Adam Price MP today published a report recommending that impeachment procedures are begun against the Prime Minister for his misconduct in relation to the Iraq war.

The group of MPs, which includes two parliamentary leaders and a Conservative shadow minister, will, over the next couple of weeks seek to gather further support from their parliamentary colleagues.

In a joint statement issued today, Plaid Cymru's Parliamentary Leader Elfyn Llwyd MP and Adam Price MP said:

"Today we call upon our fellow parliamentarians to stand up for the people and for Parliament. Tony Blair has misled this country time and time again - we cannot let this conduct continue unchecked. It is our duty as Members of Parliament to hold the Prime Minister to account and restore the people's faith in the democratic process.

"Today we are announcing that we have instructed leading counsel to draw up papers and procedures and a draft motion of impeachment which we will publish in September. Counsel will be Rabinder Singh QC and Professor Connor Gearty of Matrix Chambers who have been instructed through Public Interest Lawyers of Birmingham headed by leading solicitor Phil Shiner.

Commenting on the report, co-author Dan Plesch, Honourary Fellow of Birkbeck College, University of London said:

"It is unheard for a minister to knowingly deceive Parliament and the public and to refuse to resign. Beverley Hughes and Peter Mandelson were forced to resign for misleading Parliament. Can the Prime Minister honestly say that his actions were less serious than those of Ms Hughes and Mr Mandelson?"

"Blair seriously misled and deceived the public over Iraq and there can be no greater offence for a Prime Minister. Impeachment is the only way to ensure that this Tony Blair doesn't get away with this."

Dr Glen Rangwala, a lecturer at Cambridge and co-author of Chapter I of the report added:

"The Prime Minister has destroyed the ability of the government to communicate effectively and authoritatively with Parliament and the country about the security risks we face. He has caused serious and long-term damage to the reputation of the intelligence services worldwide. And he has done this in the full knowledge that his actions have escalated the threat of both terrorist attacks and the ability of terrorists to acquire chemical and biological weapons."

Ends

To download a PDF version of the report, please visit www.impeachBlair.org

For further information please contact:

Gwenllian Griffiths

07980 013842

020 7219 6422

griffithsg@parliament.uk