January news

Brown must face inquiry before election, says David Heath

David Heath urged Gordon Brown to face the Chilcot Inquiry before the next general election.

During yesterday's Primes Ministers Questions, Mr Heath asked Gordon Brown if he personally regretted or was sorry for any of the policy decisions made before and during the war in Iraq whilst he was Chancellor of the Exchequer.

In response, Mr Brown conceded that mistakes had been made with the reconstruction of Iraq after the war, but that he stands by the decisions made.

Mr Heath's question followed on from Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg, in his questioning of the Government. Mr Clegg urged Gordon Brown to go to the Chilcot Inquiry and to give evidence. He has since written to the PM urging him to indicate immediately to Sir John Chilcot that it is his strong preference to go before the Iraq Inquiry ahead of the General Election.

Mr Heath said: "Iraq has to be the biggest failing of this Labour government and Gordon Brown has said very little about the decision that led to the war during his premiership.

“Alistair Campbell clearly stated to the Chilcot Inquiry on Tuesday that Mr Brown was intrinsically involved in all the decision making in the run-up to Iraq. For this reason the Prime Minister must go in front of the Inquiry before the next general election so the public can judge his actions. We all want to know whether he personally regrets or is sorry for the shambles that the Iraq War was.”

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David Heath backs veterans welfare bill

David Heath has backed the ‘Veterans Welfare Bill’ introduced in Parliament by Michael Moore MP on Wednesday

Mr Moore is proposing legislation, under the ’10 Minute Rule’ procedure, that would introduce a ‘Veterans Covenant’ setting out a duty of care for veterans in the same way that the Military Covenant does for serving members of the armed forces and their families.

Mr Heath said: It is vital that the Ministry of Defence ensures veterans’ needs are properly assessed and their access to support monitored appropriately. It is unacceptable that at the moment many veterans end up with inadequate access to health services and financial support.

"I wholeheartedly support the Veteran Welfare Bills’ attempt to improve the coordination and implementation of existing support programmes available for those in the armed forces. I also agree that the Government must be held to account by reporting to Parliament on veterans’ welfare issues on an annual basis. Only by doing this will our veterans receive the proper support that they so thoroughly deserve."

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