Information submitted to the Iraq Inquiry

Submission to the Iraq Inquiry, 04/01/2010:

Following the allegations published yesterday (News of the World, Sunday 3rd Jan) about Prince Charles’ behind-the-scenes campaigning to try to influence ministers in the lead up to the Iraq invasion, I strongly urge the Inquiry to investigate whether or not these allegations are true and, if they are, to take whatever actions are necessary to bring the Prince of Wales in front of the committee to give evidence.

The public has a right to know what influences were brought to bear upon the government from the heir to the throne and whether those influences were instrumental in helping to form policy.  The public also has a right to hear from Prince Charles why he thought it necessary to break the constitutional convention which demands the monarch and other members of the royal family retain political neutrality.

Steve Smedley