UK’s Cameron disappointed over Iraq war inquiry publication date

The delayed publication of the Chilcot Inquiry has led to widespread public and media outcry.

Sir John wrote: “I entirely understand that a checking process is necessary and is normal procedure in Inquiries which have considered a large volume of sensitive material” to ensure that the Government meets its obligations under Article 2 of the European Convention on Human Rights and for the protection of National Security.

He added he was happy to provide any resources needed to “expedite the final stages of the Inquiry” and added that he would aim to complete the national security review of the document “as quickly as possible”.

“We will complete that work as swiftly as possible”, the letter said.

“My colleagues and I estimate that we will be able to complete the text of our report in the week commencing 18 April (LSE: 0N69.L – news) 2016”. I thought it would be out by the end of the year, because they have everything there.

Mr Keys claimed all that would emerge would be a “watered-down version” of a few of the criticisms put to civil servants and senior politicians.

He added: “It was all a deceit, a falsehood and a lot of young men and women died in that conflict”.

“Sir John needs to get down to his office at 8 o’clock in the morning and get it done”.

Sir John Chilcot has announced that he is to publish his report into the Iraq war next June or July following intense pressure from David Cameron to speed up his timetable.

Although the probe looked at the entire period of British operations in Iraq, much of the focus has been on the decision to overthrow Saddam Hussein.

Mr Keys, who was living in Llanuwchllyn, near Bala, North Wales, at the time of his son’s death, said Sir John’s time frame was “unacceptable”.

Blair had previously denied that the delay was linked to a process in which individual witnesses such as himself are given the chance to respond to criticism of them in the report.

Sir John has faced fury over the slow pace of his report, which was held up by gaining responses from people he criticised.

The former Prime Minister did say sorry for the fact the intelligence on which he based the case for going to war was wrong and for “mistakes” in the planning of the invasion and its aftermath.