UK Political Establishment Accused of Undermining Iraq War Inquiry

A number of officials involved in the inquiry have reportedly revealed their anger at recent attempts made by Downing Street staff and other political figures to try and speed up the publication date of their report into the Iraq war.

The matter of the delayed Chilcot report has been in the public spotlight again in recent times, with Conservative chair of the Defence Select Committee saying that "anyone with a conscience" would ensure that the report is published quickly, while Defense Secretary Michael Fallon urged those on the panel to swiftly publish their findings, saying that the report had "been delayed long enough."

This also comes as family members of those killed in Iraq recently threatened the panel with legal action if the report wasn't published in the near future.

The Establishment 'Throwing Dirt' at Inquiry

Insiders involved in the inquiry have taken aim at members of Britain's "mandarinate" political establishment, telling the Independent that senior officials are trying to portray the panel members as "bumbling incompetents."

"These are absurd, nasty hatchet jobs on John [Chilcot], most of them nonsense," one inquiry source was quoted as saying.

"This is an independent inquiry and if forced to publish, only an incomplete report will be delivered." 

The source accused the establishment of "throwing dirt" at the inquiry panel in order to portray them as a "load of bumbling incompetents and amateurs whose eventual judgments cannot be trusted."

The are suggestions that some figures are looking to discredit the Chilcot report in advance for fear it may be critical of parliamentary institutions.

"Rather than being seen as the tools of the mandarinate [political faction], the problem is potentially the opposite. The material so far sent out to key individuals at the centre of the war decisions criticizes the institutions of government in a way that Whitehall will not like."

Cameron Undermining Report

The Chilcot insider also accused David Cameron of taking a negative tone against the inquiry and the subsequent publication delays in order to free himself from any criticism.

This comes after the PM said the delay in the publication of the report was "immensely frustrating."

"People will think: 'Why on earth can't the Prime Minister order this thing to be published?' I can't. It's an independent inquiry," Cameron said.

However, the insider argued that the criticism is not helping the panel in their quest to complete the report.

"The inquiry is being attacked from three sides. The Prime Minister wants everyone to know he is not holding things up. Others are accusing the inquiry of being engaged in a dastardly plot to cover things up. These are clear threats, and the inquiry can't do anything to challenge them."

The Chilcot inquiry, which is looking into events from 2001 to 2009, started taking evidence in 2009 and concluded its last public hearing in 2011.

Many have been highly critical of the time it has taken to try and publish the report, while others have suggested that key members of the UK's political establishment, including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, have been purposely delaying publication for fear they may be found guilty of acting improperly — allegations which have been strenuously denied.