Opposition parties to see Scott report sooner
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.DONALD MACINTYRE AND CHRIS BLACKHURST
The Cabinet yesterday bowed to pressure from the Speaker of the Commons, Betty Boothroyd, and agreed to supply to the opposition parties advance copies of Sir Richard Scott's Arms to Iraq report next Thursday ahead of publication that afternoon.
The move came after Sir Richard himself intervened to back the Speaker's call to ensure that Opposition spokesmen had sufficient time to draw up a detailed response to the report.
Sir Richard, who on Wednesday said he had been put under pressure by the government to issue ministers with advance copies, authorised Christopher Muttukumaru, the inquiry secretary, to write to the Department of Trade and Industry proposing that he release the report in advance to Robin cook, the Shadow Foreign Secretary.
That was agreed yesterday during the first Cabinet discussion of the report since copies were sent to Ministers and officials on Wednesday. The time at which the advance will be issued to the Opposition has still not been agreed though it is likely to be around midday.
Downing Street said ministers were also still considering when and whether to supply advance copies to current and former ministers and officials named in the report who may want to marshal a defence against criticisms. The terms of the letter sent by Mr Muttukumaru to the DTI underline the strictness of Sir Richard's formal stipulation to ministers against disclosing any of the report's contents before publication.
At parliamentary question time, Tony Blair, the Labour leader accused Tory ex-ministers of mounting a "concerted attempt to rubbish" the Scott inquiry into the arms-to-Iraq affair before it is published next week.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments