Law Lords' Iraq ruling disappointing

2.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 11th Apr 2008

Iraq flag

The mothers of two young soldiers killed in Iraq today lost their legal attempt in the House of Lords to force the Government to hold a public inquiry into Britain's involvement in the conflict. In a rare unanimous ruling Britain's highest court held that the families did not have a legal right under the European Convention on Human Rights to require the Government to hold an independent public inquiry into the invasion into Iraq.

Nick Clegg, Liberal Democrat Leader said "This ruling will be extremely disappointing for the families involved. Whatever the Prime Minister or the Law Lords say, natural justice demands that a full public inquiry is held without further delay. How can our brave troops and their families ever trust the Government again unless they are sure lessons have been learnt from the disastrous decision to invade Iraq?"