Iraq Five Years On: Sarah Says Never Again

2.14.20pm GMT Thu 27th Mar 2008

Sarah Teather wants a full investigation into the Iraq war

Brent's Liberal Democrat MP Sarah Teather has marked the fifth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq by calling on the Labour Government to apologise for taking Britain into a disastrous war.

Five years on from the start of the invasion, 175 British troops have lost their lives, £7 billion of public money has been spent and, according to some estimates, 600,000 Iraqis have lost their lives. No weapons of mass destruction were found in Iraq and many experts believe that the threat from terrorism is now higher than ever.

Sarah marched with thousands of protesters against the war in Iraq in 2003, and the Liberal Democrats were the only major party to oppose the war in the House of Commons. Gordon Brown and David Cameron both voted for the war.

Yesterday, Sarah was the only MP in Brent to vote for a full investigation into the Iraq war.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"Five years ago Tony Blair and Gordon Brown ignored massive public opposition when they chose to send our troops into Iraq. So many people in Brent have watched with horror as the full devastating effects of the war have become clear.

"175 British men and women and at least 600,000 innocent Iraqis have died, and we have frittered away £7billion that could have been spent on vital services in Brent. It is time we brought out troops home.

"I was proud to march against the war in 2003, proud that the Liberal Democrats were brave enough to speak out against the invasion, but sorry yesterday that I was the only MP in Brent to vote for a full investigation into Labour's war. Even Labour MPs who backed the war must now realise this was a terrible mistake and we must learn the lessons from it.

"This illegal war has dangerously destabilised the Middle East, devastated the lives of millions of ordinary Iraqis and damaged this country's international reputation. Those who voted for the war should apologise to the British people for their mistake and give us a full and transparent inquiry into how and why such an appalling decision was possible. We owe it to those who have lost their lives that we ensure this country never makes this mistake again."