My mistake in war vote — Meacher

OLDHAM West and Royton MP Michael Meacher voting in favour of the Iraq War was the worst mistake of his political life.

The former Labour minister said documents claiming justification for any future war must be fully disclosed to MPs long before any decision on military action.

The veteran MP also wants votes far earlier in deliberations: the Iraq war vote took place on the eve of the campaign, after thousands of troops had already been deployed.

Mr Meacher said of his decision to vote in favour of war: “I am utterly ashamed of what I did on that occasion. It’s the worst political mistake I have made in my lifetime.

“I did it because I listened very carefully to the Prime Minister in two crucial debates. He spoke with enormous assurance and authority.”

Mr Meacher said he was angry at being deceived, and that events surrounding the war had affected his trust of the link between intelligence, various government departments and the Prime Minister, who speaks for the Government.

Mr Meacher, who was appointed as a minister by Mr Blair, said: “The first lesson is in any such future scenario - though God forbid there ever should be such a future scenario - the House of Commons vote must be at a much earlier stage, when war is first being seriously contemplated.

“At that stage the documentation must be provided to justify war, and that must be fully disclosed to the House before the vote is taken.”