British leader Gordon Brown won’t testify before his country’s investigation of the Iraq war until after the next general election, the committee behind the inquiry said Wednesday.
The Iraq Inquiry, which is investigating the 2003 U.S.-led invasion, said Gordon Brown and other senior ministers wouldn’t be quizzed until after the poll in an effort to keep proceedings clear of party politics.
“The committee believes that only after the general election can these ministers give their evidence fully without the hearings being used as a platform for political advantage,” it said in a statement.
A general election – which is widely expected to sweep Gordon Brown’s ruling Labour Party out of office – must be held some time before the middle of 2010.
The decision to delay Brown’s testimony was criticized by Britain’s two leading opposition parties.
Britain’s Liberal Democrats said it appeared that John Chilcot, who was appointed by Brown to lead the inquiry earlier this year, was sparing the prime minister a potential embarrassment ahead of a tough election.
