Sturgeon slams ‘scandalous’ Chilcot report delay

The First Minister made the claim as Holyrood MSPs debated the issue in the light of revelations that the long-awaited report of the Chilcot inquiry into Britain’s role in the war will not be published until after the general election in May.

Labour confirmed during the debate that its MSPs would vote for the SNP motion later today backing the immediate publication of the report.

• Tony Blair denies delaying Chilcot Iraq War report

Ms Sturgeon said: “The invasion of Iraq was, I believe, a foreign policy blunder of epic proportions, the consequences of which we are living with today and will do so for many years to come.

“But we must be told whether more than mere miscalculation was involved, and only the full and immediate publication of the Chilcot findings can help shed light on that.

• SNP: Let public see Chilcot report before election

“Those responsible for leading the UK to war will have to answer for their actions, but only the full publication of the report will allow them to do that.”