18/11/2008
Lord Bingham Criticises 'Flawed' Iraq Advice
A former top judge has said legal advice given to Tony Blair prior to the Iraq was fundamentally "flawed".
Lord Bingham, who stepped down in July, described Britain’s invasion of Iraq as "flawed in two fundamental respects".
He also criticised Lord Goldsmith’s advice to Mr Blair, saying there was no "hard evidence" that Iraq had defied UN resolutions "in a manner justifying resort to force".
Delivering the annual Grotius Lecture, marking the 50th anniversary of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Lord Bingham referred to a written parliamentary statement made by Lord Goldsmith on 17 March 2003.
In the statement, he confirmed that a war in Iraq would be legal on the grounds of existing UN resolutions.
Lord Bingham said: "It was not plain that Iraq had failed to comply in a manner justifying resort to force and there were no strong factual grounds or hard evidence to show that it had.
"Hans Blix and his team of weapons inspectors had found no weapons of mass destruction, were making progress and expected to complete their task in a matter of months."
Lord Goldsmith, responding to Lord Bingham’s criticisms, insisted the invasion of Iraq was legal.
He said: "I would not have given that advice if it were not genuinely my view.
"Lord Bingham is entitled to his own legal perspective five years after the event, but at the time and since then many nations other than ours took part in the action and did so believing that they were acting lawfully."
(JM)
Lord Bingham, who stepped down in July, described Britain’s invasion of Iraq as "flawed in two fundamental respects".
He also criticised Lord Goldsmith’s advice to Mr Blair, saying there was no "hard evidence" that Iraq had defied UN resolutions "in a manner justifying resort to force".
Delivering the annual Grotius Lecture, marking the 50th anniversary of the British Institute of International and Comparative Law, Lord Bingham referred to a written parliamentary statement made by Lord Goldsmith on 17 March 2003.
In the statement, he confirmed that a war in Iraq would be legal on the grounds of existing UN resolutions.
Lord Bingham said: "It was not plain that Iraq had failed to comply in a manner justifying resort to force and there were no strong factual grounds or hard evidence to show that it had.
"Hans Blix and his team of weapons inspectors had found no weapons of mass destruction, were making progress and expected to complete their task in a matter of months."
Lord Goldsmith, responding to Lord Bingham’s criticisms, insisted the invasion of Iraq was legal.
He said: "I would not have given that advice if it were not genuinely my view.
"Lord Bingham is entitled to his own legal perspective five years after the event, but at the time and since then many nations other than ours took part in the action and did so believing that they were acting lawfully."
(JM)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
27 January 2010
Goldsmith Before Iraq Inquiry
The Government's former chief legal adviser Lord Goldsmith did change his stance on the legality of the Iraq war prior to the invasion, he admitted today. Lord Goldsmith, the ex-Attorney General, said his first ruling that a second UN resolution was necessary had been "too cautious".
Goldsmith Before Iraq Inquiry
The Government's former chief legal adviser Lord Goldsmith did change his stance on the legality of the Iraq war prior to the invasion, he admitted today. Lord Goldsmith, the ex-Attorney General, said his first ruling that a second UN resolution was necessary had been "too cautious".
21 October 2005
Britain celebrates Trafalgar bicentenary
Britain is marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar with a series of events across the country. More than 6,000 events are planned to take place throughout the UK over the weekend, to mark the Royal Navy victory over the combined Spanish and France fleets on October 21, 1805.
Britain celebrates Trafalgar bicentenary
Britain is marking the 200th anniversary of the Battle of Trafalgar with a series of events across the country. More than 6,000 events are planned to take place throughout the UK over the weekend, to mark the Royal Navy victory over the combined Spanish and France fleets on October 21, 1805.
28 April 2005
Government publishes Iraq war legal advice
The government has published the legal advice provided by the Attorney General before the Iraq War, following the leak of some of the information to the media. The leaked information from Attorney General Lord Goldsmith’s March 7, 2003 document, which was never shown to parliament, showed that he had reservations about the legality of war in Iraq.
Government publishes Iraq war legal advice
The government has published the legal advice provided by the Attorney General before the Iraq War, following the leak of some of the information to the media. The leaked information from Attorney General Lord Goldsmith’s March 7, 2003 document, which was never shown to parliament, showed that he had reservations about the legality of war in Iraq.
25 March 2005
Information Commissioner to investigate Iraq legal advice
The Information Commissioner is to investigate the government's decision not to disclose the Attorney General's advice on the Iraq war. Richard Thomas has reportedly received a number of individual complaints, as well as complaints from newspapers, regarding the government's decision.
Information Commissioner to investigate Iraq legal advice
The Information Commissioner is to investigate the government's decision not to disclose the Attorney General's advice on the Iraq war. Richard Thomas has reportedly received a number of individual complaints, as well as complaints from newspapers, regarding the government's decision.
23 September 2003
CAB warns legal aid system decimated by government audits
The legal aid system is being audited out of existence to the extent that the poor and socially excluded "are unable to receive the help they need", the Citizens Advice annual conference was told today.
CAB warns legal aid system decimated by government audits
The legal aid system is being audited out of existence to the extent that the poor and socially excluded "are unable to receive the help they need", the Citizens Advice annual conference was told today.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.