Tories urge Iraq inquiry support

Tony Blair addresses UK troops in Basra

The Tories will call upon MPs to back "the principle" of an inquiry into the government's responsibilities in the war in Iraq.

The issue of timing is key - a call for an immediate inquiry by the Scottish National Party and Plaid Cymru was defeated by a 25-vote margin in a Commons debate in October 2006.

But shadow foreign secretary William Hague will not ask the House to agree to a timetable for the inquiry.

He argues that lessons should be learnt from Iraq "sooner rather than later" and fears that evidence will become more difficult to gather as time runs on.

But Mr Hague hopes to win over waverers in the Commons with the non-committal wording of the Conservatives' motion.

'Slip of the tongue'?

Defence Secretary Des Browne made headlines after the SNP/Plaid Cymru led debate by agreeing that there would be an inquiry "when the time is right" - a statement later dismissed as a "slip of the tongue".

And the Leader of the House, Jack Straw has said that an inquiry should be held "in due course".

But the Foreign Secretary, Margaret Beckett will argue that there have already been four inquiries on Iraq, and agreeing to hold another would be damaging to UK troops in Iraq.

Iraq inquiries so far... Butler report Hutton inquiry Intelligence and Security Ctte report Foreign Affairs Ctte report

Critics of the government say that the inquiries held so far have been restricted to narrow remits.

Today gives parliament the opportunity to back a wide-ranging investigation into "the responsibilities of Government were discharged in relation to Iraq" before and after the invasion.

Watch the debate live on BBC Parliament from around 1630 BST - which will culminate in a vote at around 1930 BST.