Salmond hits out at MSPs over Iraq war

Political Editor

Wednesday 20 March 2013

ALEX Salmond has accused MSPs who voted to support the Iraq war of costing lives in the conflict, which began 10 years ago today.

passionate: Alex Salmond said the Iraq war was 'a disgrace without parallel in modern times'.

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Magnus Gardham Political Editor.

The First Minister yesterday challenged more than 20 MSPs who backed the invasion during a historic Holyrood debate a decade ago to "recant".

During ill-tempered clashes in Parliament he told one of the MSPs, Labour's Lewis Macdonald, that "people died because of his votes in this Parliament".

Mr Salmond's comments – later denounced as unpardonable by Labour – came as MSPs passed a symbolic motion condemning the 2003 invasion. It came 10 years after the Scottish Parliament narrowly endorsed then-Prime Minister Tony Blair's decision to go to war.In a powerful speech, the First Minister said Britain went into an "illegal" war on the basis of a "gigantic fraud" and a "gross deception". Rounding on claims, later found false, that Saddam Hussein had and could rapidly deploy weapons of mass destruction, he added: "The Iraq war was a disgrace without parallel in modern times."He said a number of Labour politicians had since "recanted". He added: "I hope Johann Lamont and the remaining 23 members in this Parliament of 129, who for one reason or another were misled into supporting an illegal conflict with incalculable consequences, at some stage, perhaps in voting for the motion today, will find within themselves the courage and integrity and admit that mistake to the Scottish people."His attack on Mr Macdonald came as the North East Scotland MSP tried to intervene and apparently complained the First Minister would not give way.Finally taking his question, Mr Salmond said: "Well, the member says it's a joke. Let him speak and see how funny it is that people died because of his votes in this Parliament."The Government's motion paid tribute to the armed forces and remembered those who died but condemned the invasion as a "reckless, illegal military conflict with incalculable human and material costs".It was passed by 73 to 10, with 33 abstentions, mainly from the Labour benches.The debate was the first in a series called by the Scottish Government this week designed to press the case for independence ahead of the SNP conference at the weekend.MSPs are also due to debate Trident and Mr Salmond's claimed "oil boom" before the SNP leader names the date for the referendum tomorrow.Shortly before the invasion in 2003 the Scottish Parliament endorsed military action, unless Saddam gave up weapons of mass destruction. An SNP motion opposing military action unless weapons were actually found was defeated by 16 votes.Scots Labour leader Ms Lamont said she was "deeply disappointed" the First Minister had chosen to turn the debate on the war "into an argument for independence". She said she backed the war on account of Saddam's "tyranny". Recalling the original debate she added: "It was a division between what, on balance, people believed the better thing to do. Not the right or wrong thing to do, but the better thing to do in the most difficult of circumstances."A Labour spokesman said Mr Salmond's comments were "the most tasteless politicking on a very serious subject. His words were unpardonable".

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Salmond hits out at MSPs over Iraq war

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