Nine questions... but no comment
HE has been dubbed the ‘Man With No Conscience’ for keeping the families of the Iraq War dead in limbo over his longoverdue report. But yesterday Sir John Chilcot was the man with no comment after he refused to answer a single question about the reason for the delays.
The following are nine key questions put to his office by the Daily Mail in consultation with the bereaved relatives – and Sir John’s exact answers:
1 When was the first so-called Maxwellisation letter sent out by the inquiry?
2 To how many i ndividuals have Maxwellisation letters been sent?
3 Have all the witnesses who testified at the Iraq Inquiry hearings been sent a Maxwellisation letter?
4 After an initial response to a letter, how many witnesses have engaged in any further correspondence with the Iraq Inquiry?
5 Has all correspondence with witnesses been completed and, if not, how many witnesses are still engaged i n the Maxwellisation process? The answer to all five questions was: ‘Sir John has made clear that Maxwellisation is a confidential process.’
6 Is Sir John intending to respond to the legal letter sent by solicitors on behalf of the families of military personnel killed in Iraq and, if so, when?
7 Is Sir John intending to respond to criticisms made by the families and, if not, why not?
8 The families who Sir John met at the start of the inquiry claim he has broken his promise to finish it quickly. What does he say to this? The answer to each of these three questions was: ‘No comment.’
9 Is Sir John working this week or is he on holiday? Answer: ‘The inquiry’s work is continuing.’