Hanvey Calls for Blair to be stripped of Knighthood in Wake of New Declassified Documents over Iraq

Speaking today in a Westminster Hall Debate which he has secured and will lead entitled: “UK military action in Iraq and declassified documents from 1998” the ALBA Party Westminster Leader Neale Hanvey MP will call for the former Prime Minister Tony Blair to be stripped of his knighthood in the light of the new revelations contained in declassified UK Government documents from 1998.

These reveal that Tony Blair ignored specific warnings given by the Foreign Office’s Legal Adviser that military action would be unlawful unless it was underpinned by a resolution of the United Nations (UN) Security Council and that such a resolution was the “only valid claim to employ force”. In addition clear warnings about the legality of military action were received from the Solicitor General, the Attorney General, the Chief of the Defence Staff and the Deputy Secretary for Defence and Overseas – all of which were set aside.

It is clear from these declassified documents that Blair was determined to support US military intervention at all costs. The documents show that Blair pressed the then Attorney General to offer a legal justification for military action and that he also misled Parliament.

Neale Hanvey MP will state:

“How can it be that a Prime Minister who prosecuted two wars against lawful advice and instruction has been rewarded with a knighthood. This is an insult to every single life lost and it should be withdrawn forthwith and a path to full justice secured.”

Referring to declassified documents Mr Hanvey will state:

“So, in summary, the then Foreign Office’s legal adviser stated that the “only valid claim to employ force” was under the authority of the United Nations Security Council.

“The Solicitor General warned Tony Blair that there were lawyers who might resign rather than have to implement decisions “incompatible with international law”

“And what is absolutely clear is that neither the Foreign Office’s Legal Adviser or the Solicitor General were willing to advise that military action was legally justifiable.

“And we have evidence of the then Prime Minister pressing the then Attorney General to provide a legal justification for military action.

“If that wasn’t concerning enough, we also had that Chief of the Defence Staff stating that “he was worried about the legal side.”

“Crucially, the Deputy Secretary for Defence and Overseas Affairs offering absolute clarity that “the bottom line remains that” a UN Security Council Resolution is required before the use of force can be authorised. In fact, the communication sent to Downing Street makes clear that the Prime Minister’s office was told that this was essential

“It is clear from these declassified documents that Tony Blair misled Parliament. When he announced military action to parliament on 17 November 1998, he said: “I have no doubt that we have the proper legal authority, as it is contained in successive Security Council resolution documents”.

“But this was clearly misleading as he had been consistently advised by the Solicitor General, by the Attorney General, by the Foreign Office Legal Adviser and by the Deputy Secretary for Defence and Overseas Affairs that further UN authorisation was required for the use of force.

“These declassified documents show Tony Blair was determined to take military action against Saddam Hussein’s regime in 1998 against explicit advice and in the absence of legal arguments to justify it.

“These documents show Tony Blair dismissed legal objections to his 1998 bombing campaign and that this was a direct precursor to his stance over the invasion of Iraq five years later in 2003 which was also deemed illegal.

“These words chime with and are foretold in the declassified documents which I have highlighted today.

“In both instances in 1998 and in 2003 we know Tony Blair received legal advice warning that military action was illegal and in both instances, he ignored that legal advice and went on to authorise the deployment of British service personnel.

“Blair pressed officials, in particular the Attorney General to provide a legal justification for the use of force. He received none, but he did it anyway.

“Blair misled Parliament by claiming that a legal basis for military force, without a UN Security Council Resolution existed, when in fact it did not.

“The consequences have been devastating for Iraqis, for the region and for military personnel and their families. Lives lost in the theatre of war are well understood casualties, but the lives wrecked by the trauma of conflict are less easily quantified yet every bit as real.

“I heard such stories yesterday speaking to the War Widows. Such loss and devastation is met with great courage by those affected, but every person's loss should surely be based on lawful instruction.”

Mr Hanvey concluded:

“Governments should not lie to go to war, and the truth must now be told.”