ALEX Salmond has called on Scots to sign a petition demanding that Westminster holds Tony Blair to account for the war in Iraq.
The former first minister said the evidence exposed in the Chilcot inquiry showed that he “systematically misled parliament”.
The online petition already has more than 7,000 signatures, but 10,000 are needed for the UK government to respond and 100,000 must be gathered before the Friday, January 20, deadline for it to be considered for debate in parliament.
Salmond said: “Chilcot has laid out the evidence, which shows that Blair, over a period of 15 months, systematically misled parliament in the run-up to military action in Iraq.
“We now have over 7,000 signatures in just three days, with signatures from all but two of the UK’s constituencies.
“There is clear support for Mr Blair to be held to account for the disastrous Iraq War and I urge anyone seeking to register their support to sign this petition.”
The petition, set up by Plaid Cymru politician Adam Price, states that parliament should hold Tony Blair to account for the war in Iraq and urges supporters to make their voices heard.
It also reads: “The Chilcot Report has presented a range of evidence that demonstrates that Parliament and the country were misled by Tony Blair in the run-up to the war in Iraq. Parliament should now agree a process by which it can hold the former prime minister to account.”
Under the rules of such a debate, Blair could be forced to stand at the Bar of the House of Commons and if the motion is passed, it would be for Parliament to impose a penalty.
Price, the former MP and current AM for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, who has long campaigned for Blair to be held to account for his actions over Iraq, said: “This is an attempt to get a motion debated on the floor of the House.
“Unfortunately the Speaker was advised not to give such a debate preference in Parliamentary time after the publication of the Chilcot Report.
“From my own experience, I know Parliamentary clerks are among the most conservative constitutionalists you’ll find anywhere.”
The petition is available to sign online at https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/159996.
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