We need a public inquiry on Britain's role in war on Gaza
In the aftermath of the Iraq war, several attempts were made to establish an inquiry surrounding the conduct of British military operations. Published in 2016, the Chilcot inquiry found serious failings in the British government, which ignored the warnings of millions of ordinary people over its disastrous decision to go to war.
History is repeating itself. Today, the death toll in Gaza has reportedly exceeded 61,000. Two Israeli officials are wanted by the international criminal court for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Britain has played a highly influential role in Israel's military operations, including the sale of weapons, the supply of intelligence and the use of Royal Air Force bases in Cyprus.
Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of democracy. Therefore we are demanding an independent, public inquiry into the UK's involvement in Israel's military assault in Gaza. This inquiry should establish exactly what decisions have been taken, how they have been made and what consequences they have had. Any meaningful inquiry would require the full cooperation of ministers involved in decision-making processes since October 2023.
Many people believe that the government has taken decisions that have implicated officials in the gravest breaches of international law. These charges will not go away until there is an inquiry with the legal power to establish the truth.
Jeremy Corbyn Independent Alliance, Brendan O'Hara Middle East spokesperson, Scottish National party, Carla Denyer Co-leader, Green party, Brian Leishman Scottish Labour, Diane Abbott Labour, Zarah Sultana Independent, Richard Burgon Labour
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Scottish Sun
27 minutes ago
- Scottish Sun
RAF fighter jets to be scrambled to Middle East as Israel-Iran conflict spirals and Tehran threatens to strike UK bases
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Sign up for the Politics newsletter Sign up 7 RAF jets will be deployed to the Middle East to protect British assets 7 It comes after Iran's ballistic missile strikes on Tel Aviv, pictured 7 A building is hit by a missile in Tel Aviv, Israel, on June 13 7 Sir Keir Starmer has decided to scramble British jets to the Middle East The escalation came after Iranian state media said American, British and French military bases would be in the firing line if they blocked Iran's drone and missile retaliation. The Prime Minister, on his way to the G7 summit in Canada, said: 'I will always make the right decisions for the UK and our allies. 'We are moving assets to the region, including jets, and that is for contingency support in the region. "I will be clear-eyed in relation to our duties and obligations and my duties as Prime Minister.' read more politics TUCH RAP Vile chants about PM 'not acceptable' Tuchel tells England fans after Andorra win Military capabilities such as further refuelling aircraft and additional fast jets will be deployed in the wake of the threat – adding to our presence there under Operation Shader. The aircraft started their preparation for heading to the Middle East on Friday morning when Ministers realised the situation was rapidly deteriorating. It comes after Israel launched strikes on Iran's nuclear plants which triggered Tehran to hit back across the country with ballistic missiles - raising fears of an all-out war. Israel vowed "Tehran will burn" after they were hit with four deadly waves of missiles aimed at the Israeli Defence Force (IDF) headquarters in Tel Aviv which have killed at least three people. 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The Iranian ballistic missile strikes on Israel descended on the civilian population across the country and managed to severely damage some neighbourhoods in Tel Aviv. The country's defence minister Israel Katz said Iran "crossed red lines after it dared to attack the civilian population" and will now "pay a heavy price for it". He added: "If Khamenei continues to fire missiles at the Israeli home front, Tehran will burn." Russian President Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict between Israel and Iran, as well as efforts towards a Ukraine settlement in a phone call with US counterpart Donald Trump, Russian state media reported Saturday. "The dangerous escalation in the Middle East was of course at the centre of the exchange," the agencies cited the Kremlin as saying. It added that Putin also informed Trump about the "implementation of the agreements reached at the meeting between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations in Istanbul on June 2". 7 Israeli air defence systems do battle with Iranian missiles in the skies Credit: AP 7 The first strikes hit Tehran in the early hours of Friday Credit: AP
ITV News
44 minutes ago
- ITV News
Starmer confirms UK moving jets to Middle East but urges Israel and Iran to 'de-escalate'
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The Independent
an hour ago
- The Independent
Keir Starmer agrees to national inquiry into grooming gang scandal after months of pressure
Keir Starmer is to launch a statutory national inquiry into the grooming gang scandal after months of pressure on the issue. The prime minister told journalists on the flight to the G7 in Canada that he had accepted the new recommendation from Louise Casey, who conducted the original review into the grooming gang scandal, which has hit communities all around the UK. Sir Keir and Labour ministers, including Minister for Domestic Abuse Jess Phillips, have come under attack for not agreeing to one before. It was alleged that there had been a cover-up because many of those responsible for attacks, including rape, on white working class girls were of Pakistani ethnicity. But the prime minister insisted that there had not been a U-turn on the matter, instead saying he had been waiting for Dame Louise to complete her review. He said: "From the start, I have always said that we should implement the recommendations [of Dame Louise's report]. 'I think there were 200 recommendations when you take all of the reviews that have gone on at every level and we have got to get on with implementing them. 'I have never said we should not look again at any issue. I have wanted to be reassured on the question of an inquiry. That's why I asked Louise Casey, whom I hugely respect, to do an audit. "Her position when she started the audit was that there was not a real need for a national inquiry over and above what was going on. She has looked at the material and she has come to the view that there should be a national inquiry on the basis of what she has seen. "I have read every single word of her report and I am going to accept her recommendation. That is the right thing to do on the basis of what she has put in her audit.' However, Tory leader Kemi Badenoch, who has met with victims and has been demanding an inquiry, lambasted Sir Keir over the delay. She said: 'Keir Starmer doesn't know what he thinks unless an official report has told him so. Just like he dismissed concerns about the winter fuel payment and then had to U-turn, just like he needed the Supreme Court to tell him what a woman is, he had to be led by the nose to make this correct decision here. I've been repeatedly calling for a full national inquiry since January. It's about time he recognised he made a mistake and apologise for six wasted months. 'But this must not be the end of the matter. There are many, many more questions that need answering to ensure this inquiry is done properly and quickly. Many survivors of the grooming gangs will be relieved that this is finally happening, but they need a resolution soon not in 10 years time. Justice delayed is justice denied.' As well as the Tories and Reform UK demanding an inquiry, Labour MPs have also joined in exerting pressure. On Friday, Rochdale Labour MP Paul Waugh renewed his demand for a national inquiry after the long-delayed conviction of a grooming gang of seven men from his constituency. He said: 'Whether national or local inquiries are deployed, both need statutory powers to compel witnesses before them. 'And they should follow the evidence, wherever it leads them. No political party, no council, no police officer, no social worker, no racial group should be exempt from the need to find the facts. We still need accountability for everything that went wrong.'
