Farron: Blair's War Led To Failed State In Iraq

On the eve of the publication of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war, South Lakes MP Tim Farron has said the conflict has created a 'failed state' in Iraq. Tim will get advance sight of the report tomorrow morning.

The Chilcot report will be released tomorrow. The 2.6 million word report will be released to the public at around 11.15am after Sir John Chilcot has made an official statement.

As a party leader, Tim will have special access to the report earlier in the morning, and is able to take a colleague with him. Tim has chosen Ming Campbell to join him. Ming was the key spokesperson at the time, as the late Charles Kennedy led the campaign against the war.

Tim said: "The consequences of Tony Blair's decision to take us to War in 2003 are still playing out in Iraq and beyond.

"Just this Sunday 165 people have died in a suicide attack in Baghdad, adding to the nearly half a million Iraqis who have been killed in Iraq since 2003.

"Tomorrow they will be in all of our thoughts alongside the families of the service men and women who were lost in the sands and cities of Iraq, doing their duty and serving their country.

"Due to lack of proper post-conflict planning, hundreds of thousands of Iraqis have fled their country as refugees, millions of Iraqi children have missed out on education, and another generation of young people have grown up without a hope for the future.

"Bush's and Blair's choices have created a failed state which continues to be the source of extremism and instability across Middle East."