The Chilcot report has become a national byword for delays, but the long-awaited inquiry into the Iraq war has finally arrived. Here’s what you need to know.
On Wednesday, July 6, Sir John Chilcot’s extensive inquiry into the Iraq war, including the build up to, and aftermath of, the 2003 invasion is published.
It’s expected to be the most wide-ranging investigation into Britain’s role in the war, and has been in the works since then-Prime Minister Gordon Brown kicked off proceedings back in 2009.
How to get Chilcot report free online
Sir John Chilcot is set to make a public statement on Wednesday morning at 11:00 (BST). The report will be made public once his speech concludes, which is expected to be sometime between 11:15 and 11:30.
The report will be available for purchase as a hard copy, but it’ll set you back a staggering £767. That’s because the report is a massive 12-volume tome comprised of 2.6 million words – even the summary is 150 pages long. Moreover, the total cost of the inquiry to date (excluding 2015/16 costs) is £10.3 million, £1.3 million of which was spent between 2014 and 2015 – including £900 on stationery.
You can also read the Chilcot report online for free at the following website:
Prime Minister David Cameron is then expected to make a statement in House of Commons at 12:30, straight after Prime Minister’s Questions. That will be followed by another statement from Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the opposition.
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Editorial independence
Editorial independence means being able to give an unbiased verdict about a product or company, with the avoidance of conflicts of interest. To ensure this is possible, every member of the editorial staff follows a clear code of conduct.
Professional conduct
We also expect our journalists to follow clear ethical standards in their work. Our staff members must strive for honesty and accuracy in everything they do. We follow the IPSO Editors’ code of practice to underpin these standards.
