Cherie Blair: it is ‘not clear’ whether Iraq war was legal – The Guardian

Posted May 19th, 2008 in Iraq, news, war by sally

“The legal case for the 2003 Anglo-American invasion of Iraq ‘wasn’t clear’ and ‘still isn’t clear’, according to Cherie Blair who admits that she thought deeply about the war.”

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The Guardian, 17th May 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

R (Gentle and another) v Prime Minister and others [2008] UKHL 20 – WLR Daily

Posted April 11th, 2008 in armed forces, human rights, international law, Iraq, law reports, war by sally

R (Gentle and another) v Prime Minister and others [2008] UKHL 20

Art 2 of the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms, which provided that “everyone’s right to life shall be protected by law”, did not place the Government under a duty to members of the armed forces and their families to hold a public inquiry into whether it had obtained adequate legal advice on the lawfulness under international law of the invasion of Iraq.”

WLR Daily, 10th April 2008

Source: www.lawreports.co.uk

Please note once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.

Mothers lose bid for Iraq public inquiry – The Times

Posted April 9th, 2008 in armed forces, Iraq, news, war by sally

“The mothers of two young soldiers killed in Iraq today lost their legal attempt in the House of Lords to force the Government to hold a public inquiry into Britain’s involvement in the conflict.”

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The Times, 9th April 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Legal bid to force Iraq inquiry – BBC News

Posted April 9th, 2008 in armed forces, human rights, Iraq, news, war by sally

“Nine Law Lords are to rule on another legal bid to force a public inquiry into Britain’s involvement in Iraq.”

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BBC News, 9th April 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

Opposition push for immediate Iraq inquiry faces defeat – The Independent

Posted March 18th, 2008 in Iraq, news, war by sally

“MPs will vote next week on whether there should be a full-scale inquiry into the Iraq war to ensure that lessons are learnt from the mistakes made.”

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The Independent, 18th March 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

The Big Question: Should cabinet minutes be released, and what difference would it make? – The Independent

“Why are we asking this now?

Because the Government has been ordered to release the minutes of two key cabinet meetings held in the run up to the Iraq invasion in 2003. The Information Commissioner, Richard Thomas, has ordered the Government to hand over the minutes after it initially turned down a request for them made under the Freedom of Information Act.”

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The Independent, 28th February 2008

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Backstory: Iraq legal advice – The Guardian

Posted February 27th, 2008 in attorney general, Iraq, special report, war by sally

“Shortly before the start of the Iraq war, the then-attorney general Lord Goldsmith published a nine-paragraph statement saying why he thought the invasion would be legal under international law.”

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The Guardian, 26th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Government ‘must’ release Cabinet’s Iraq minutes – Daily Telegraph

Posted February 27th, 2008 in disclosure, Iraq, news, war by sally

“The Government has been ordered to release the minutes of Cabinet meetings where military action against Iraq was discussed.”

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Daily Telegraph, 26th February 2008

Source: www.telegraph.co.uk

Mothers of Iraq victims take case for inquiry to law lords – The Times

Posted February 12th, 2008 in armed forces, Iraq, news, war by sally

“The ‘overwhelming’ body of legal advice received by the Government in the lead-up to the invasion of Iraq in 2003 was that it would be unlawful without a proper mandate by the United Nations, nine law lords were told yesterday.”

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The Times, 12th February 2008

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Law lords to rule whether decision to invade Iraq warrants inquiry – The Guardian

Posted February 4th, 2008 in Iraq, news, war by sally

“Questions about the legality of Tony Blair’s decision to join the US in invading Iraq will come under the spotlight before a rarely convened panel of nine law lords in Britain’s highest court next week.”

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The Guardian, 4th February 2008

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

Ex-forces heads reject war votes – BBC News

Posted February 1st, 2008 in armed forces, war by sally

“Four former chiefs of the defence staff have attacked the prime minister’s plans to let Parliament have the final say on sending troops to war.”

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BBC News, 31st January 2008

Source: www.bbc.co.uk

The Governance of Britain – War Powers and Treaties: Limiting Executive Powers – Ministry of Justice

Posted October 26th, 2007 in armed forces, constitutional law, parliament, treaties, war by sally

“This consultation document seeks views on the role of Parliament in decisions to commit the armed forces to armed conflict abroad and on the ratification of treaties. It follows on from the ‘Governance of Britain’ green paper.”

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Ministry of Justice, 25th October 2007

Source: www.justice.gov.uk

Legal basis for war may be disclosed in future – The Times

Posted July 27th, 2007 in attorney general, news, prosecutions, war by sally

“The Attorney-General could in future have to explain before Parliament the legal basis for going to war, under reforms proposed yesterday. He or she could also give up any role in deciding prosecutions.”

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The Times, 26th July 2007

Source: www.timesonline.co.uk

Lords to look at legality of Iraq war – The Guardian

Posted June 18th, 2007 in armed forces, Iraq, news, war by sally

“Britain’s highest court is to hear a case which could force the government to hold an independent inquiry into the way the attorney general reached his conclusion that the war in Iraq would be lawful. The law lords have agreed to hear an appeal by the mothers of two soldiers killed in Iraq, who argue that the government violated their sons’ right to life by rushing into war on inadequate legal grounds.”

Full story

The Guardian, 18th June 2007

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

The Big Question: What are the precedents for holding an inquiry into the war? – The Independent

Posted June 12th, 2007 in Iraq, news, war by sally

“The Conservatives called a debate in the House of Commons yesterday to demand an inquiry into the Iraq war. They did not specify when the inquiry should take place; but they wanted MPs to agree in principle to hold one, pointing to the precedent set after the Falklands War, 25 years ago. William Hague, speaking for the Conservatives, claimed that an inquiry was ‘essential to restoring public trust and confidence in the Government’.”

Full story

The Independent, 12th June 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

Pressure mounts for war inquiry – The Independent

Posted June 11th, 2007 in Iraq, news, war by sally

“The Government will come under fresh pressure today to order a full inquiry into the Iraq war and the mistakes made since the 2003 invasion.”

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The Independent, 11th June 2007

Source: www.independent.co.uk

MPs support war-powers proposals – BBC News

Posted May 16th, 2007 in news, royal prerogative, war by sally

“MPs have approved moves to give Parliament the final say on whether British troops should be sent to war.” 

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BBC News, 16th May 2007

Source: www.bbc.co.uk