Two Birmingham MPs among 13 Labour rebels on Iraq inquiry vote
Mar 26 2009 by Grant Templeton, Birmingham Post
Birmingham MPs Roger Godsiff (Sparkbrook & Small Heath) and Dr Lynne Jones (Selly Oak) were among 13 Labour rebels who voted for a Tory motion.
The Government yesterday fended off a Tory call for an immediate inquiry into the Iraq war by promising one “as soon as practical” after British combat troops withdraw on July 31. Foreign Secretary David Miliband said there were “important lessons to be learnt” from the conflict, adding: “The time to focus on an official inquiry is when the troops come home to safety, not when they are still exposed to danger in Iraq.”
But he appeared to indicate the inquiry would be held in private.
The Tories’ motion of “no reasonable impediment” to announcing a privy council inquiry was rejected 303 to 265, majority 38. A year ago there were 12 Labour rebels and the motion was defeated 299 to 271, majority 28.
Other Labour rebels: Harry Cohen (Leyton & Wanstead), Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North), Paul Flynn (Newport West), Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North), John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington), Andrew Mackinlay (Thurrock), Gordon Prentice (Pendle), Linda Riordan (Halifax), Alan Simpson (Nottingham South), Sir Peter Soulsby (Leicester South), Mike Wood (Batley & Spen)
