Blair's Iraq snub a calculated insult to Parliament - Heath

8.16.10pm GMT Tue 12th Dec 2006

Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House, David Heath MP, today called the fact that Ian McCartney, rather than the Prime Minister or the Foreign Secretary, is to respond to this afternoon's Urgent Question on Iraq in the House of Commons on Iraq "a calculated insult to Parliament".

David Heath MP said "It is northing short of a disgrace that on a matter of such gravity as Iraq neither the Prime Ministers nor the Foreign Secretary make themselves available to answer to Parliament.

"A Prime Minister that finds time in his busy schedule to answer queries posed by a US inquiry and of the press should be expected to stand up to answer questions by the elected representatives of the British people.

"His failure to do so will be seen by the public and by parliamentarians as a calculated insult."