Government narrowly wins vote on Iraq Inquiry

3.05.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Wed 1st Nov 2006

Liberal Democrats at the London rally against war in Iraq

An attempt to force the Government to hold an inquiry into the Iraq war has failed, but the Government's majority was slashed to just 25. Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Menzies Campbell commenting on the result said "The figures only tell part of the story. The Government was on the defensive. Ministers were unconvincing and their backbenchers were unconvinced. There is deep unease about Iraq in the House of Commons. And the Prime Minister ignores this at his peril."