Dominating broadcast headlines this morning are the reported comments made by Jeremy Corbyn that, if elected party leader, he would offer a public apology for Labour’s role in taking Britain into the Iraq War.
The leadership contender said that the public did not need to wait for the long-anticipated Chilcot inquiry report to know that mistakes were made over the decision.
Chilcot Inquiry
The front page of The Times this morning reports that General Sir Nicholas Houghton, Chief of the Defence Staff, is expected to be criticised in the final report of the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq War. This follows claims by a source close to the inquiry who alleged the delays in the publication of the inquiry’s findings are due to obstruction by senior military figures facing censure for their actions during the war.
A Government spokesperson said:
This is an independent inquiry and as such publication and timing are a matter for Sir John and his team. The Government’s position remains absolutely clear, as set out in the recent exchange of letters between the Inquiry and the Prime Minister. Once maxwellisation is completed, the Prime Minister expects to receive an update from Sir John on the timescale for the urgent completion of this independent inquiry.
Gabon
The Independent and The Sun report that a small team of British soldiers have been deployed to Gabon, to help local rangers tackle the illegal ivory trade which has brought numbers of forest elephants in the country’s national parks to near-extinction levels. The team of troops, based in Northern Ireland, will work with Gabonese rangers to share experience and training in surveillance and the collection and use of criminal intelligence to prosecute poaching gangs.
Afghan Interpreters
In continued coverage of Afghan interpreters who served with British forces, the Daily Mail and The Guardian report that a suspected Afghan terrorist stripped of his UK citizenship is living in London while embroiled in a legal battle against deportation, while interpreters in Afghanistan are refused visas to live in Britain.
Elsewhere the Daily Mail reports that an Afghan interpreter shot by a Taliban sniper while serving with British troops said he fears he has been “left to the enemy”. Despite nine years working for the UK military, the 29-year-old says he has been told he does not qualify for relocation to the UK and is instead applying for a US visa. The report states the MOD said it was aware of only one recent case where a translator had asked for a letter in order to apply for a US visa and this had been provided. Lord Dannatt, former head of the Army, has told the Daily Telegraph that Britain has a “moral obligation” to help Afghan interpreters and will have “blood on its hands” if they are killed by the Taliban. The article extensively features quotes from Armed Forces Minister Penny Mordaunt’s blog on the subject.
Read more about on the HMG policy on Afghan interpreters here.
Navy Stabbing
The Daily Mail and the Daily Mirror report that the wife of a Royal Navy sailor who stabbed her husband after the collapse of their marriage has been jailed for nine years. Crystal Smith was convicted of wounding with intent after the incident in the couple’s home in Gosport. Leading Seaman Simon Smith recovered from his wounds and has continued his Royal Navy career on shore.
Image of the Day
It was during a visit to Grand Turk, in the Turks and Caicos that the Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief team of RFA Lyme Bay went ashore.
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