JEREMY Corbyn is set to table legislation for a Chilcot-style public inquiry into the UK’s role in Israel’s bombardment of Gaza.
The Independent MP and former Labour leader will present the Gaza (Independent Public Inquiry) Bill tomorrow (Wednesday, June 4), having secured a 10-minute-rule bill.
The full text of the Bill reads: "Bill to make provision for; to require the inquiry to consider any UK military, economic or political cooperation with Israel since October 2023, including the sale, supply or use of weapons, surveillance aircraft and Royal Air Force bases; to provide the inquiry with the power to question Ministers and officials about decisions taken in relation to UK involvement; and for connected purposes."
Those supporting the Bill include SNP MP Brendan O’Hara, Scottish Labour MP Brian Leishman and suspended Labour MP Zarah Sultana.
The full list is below:
- Ayoub Khan MP (Independent)
- Adnan Hussain MP (Independent)
- Shockat Adam MP (Independent)
- Iqbal Mohamed (Independent)
- Zarah Sultana MP (Independent)
- Apsana Begum (Independent)
- Brian Leishman MP (Labour)
- Richard Burgon MP (Labour)
- Steve Witherden (Labour)
- Kim Johnson MP (Labour)
- Nadia Whittome MP (Labour)
- Ian Byrne (Labour)
- Bell Ribeiro-Addy MP (Labour)
- Jon Trickett MP (Labour)
- Neil-Duncan Jordan MP (Labour)
- Ellie Chowns (Greens)
- Ann Davies (Plaid Cymru)
- Brendan O’Hara MP (SNP)
If it goes to a vote, there are likely to be more supporters.
A letter in March saw Corbyn urge Prime Minister Keir Starmer to back the inquiry, which received the cross-party support of 40 MPs.
In his letter to Starmer, Corbyn pointed to the Chilcot inquiry finding serious failings within the UK Government.
It said: “History is repeating itself. Today, the death toll in Gaza has exceeded 61,000. Two Israeli officials are now wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) for war crimes and crimes against humanity.
"Britain has played a highly influential role in Israel’s military operations, including the sale of weapons, the supply of intelligence and the use of Royal Air Force (RAF) bases in Cyprus.
"Transparency and accountability are cornerstones of democracy. Therefore, we are demanding an independent, public inquiry into the UK’s involvement in Israel’s military assault in Gaza.
"This inquiry should establish exactly what decisions have been taken, how these decisions have been made, and what consequences they have had. Any meaningful inquiry would require the full co-operation from government ministers involved in decision-making processes since October 2023."
