Scotland’s former first minister Alex Salmond today insisted the Chilcot report would be “far from the final word” on the Iraq War.
A longstanding critic of the conflict, the Gordon MP claimed it would not provide a verdict and vowed to keep fighting for “justice” for the families of the 179 Britons who lost their lives.
He also criticised the fact Tony Blair – prime minister at the time of the 2003 invasion – had seen parts of the report before relatives.
Sir John Chilcot has repeatedly come under fire for the length of time he has taken to publish his conclusions, believed to be some two million words long.
The inquiry was set up in 2009 by Gordon Brown after the withdrawal of the main body of British troops earlier that year.
Its findings will not rule whether or not the war was legal in terms of international law.
Speaking ahead of their publication, Mr Salmond, the SNP’s foreign affairs spokesman at Westminster, said he expected the report into the “disastrous” war to be “damning”.
He added: “Thirteen years since the war began, and seven since Sir John Chilcot launched his inquiry, the families of the 179 service personnel who died will finally get some of the evidence and findings as to why we were taken into this war on false pretences and why the UK Government so badly failed to plan for the war or its aftermath.
“Having waited so many years for answers, it would be a disgrace if this report were to be another establishment whitewash in the long litany of British cover-ups from Suez onwards.
“Indeed it is a disgrace that Tony Blair – who so readily drove us into this foreign policy disaster – has seen parts of the report before the families of those who died.
“It is wrong that Mr Blair has had many months to consult his spin doctors and lawyers, to construct his excuses, and to tour the TV studios denying his guilt, while the families of the dead will get just two hours advance notice.
“For those expecting answers today, we must be clear – this report will not provide a verdict, and, far from being the final word on the Iraq war, it will just be the start of a process.
“I want to reassure the families of those who died, and everyone living with the consequences of this conflict, that there is renewed cross-party determination to ensure Mr Blair and all those responsible for the lies and failures are held to account.”
The former prime minister said previously he would wait until the report is made public before commenting.
