Iraq inquiry: Chilcot has ‘repeatedly refused help’

Sir John Chilcot told David Cameron last month that he was still unable to give an estimated completion date for the inquiry – causing the prime minister to say he was “losing patience” over its poor progress.

The inquiry started in July 2009 but the final report has been subject to continued delays as draft criticisms are put to the individuals concerned to give them a chance to respond.

We have repeatedly offered the inquiry further resources. Cabinet secretary

Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood said he was unable to accelerate the inquiry, but said he had “repeatedly” offered extra resources to help speed it up.

“I’m not washing my hands of it,” he said. “It is an independent inquiry, the timetable is not in my hands.”

“I have repeatedly offered to Sir John extra resources on behalf of the prime minister, extra legal resources and so on.

Read more: Will the Chilcot inquiry into the Iraq war ever be published? - Snowblog

“At the prime minister’s request I saw him again recently, we had a private meeting at which I repeated that request, obviously.

The inquiry needs to just get its head down. Cabinet secretary

“I just know that John Chilcot will complete this report as soon as he possibly can.

“He is as aware as everybody else is about the importance of getting this done and quickly.”

‘As fast as they can’

He added: “We have repeatedly offered the inquiry further resources, they say they don’t need them, they are doing it as fast as they can.”

Sir Jeremy revealed the offers of extra help under questioning at the public administration and constitutional affairs select committee.

In response to questions from Labour MP Paul Flynn, he said: “Everybody shares your frustration, from the prime minister downwards – including Sir John Chilcot – about how long this has taken.”

He added: “I don’t think anybody is deliberately trying to slow down the inquiry,” but said a “long, hard look” would be taken once it was finished to established why so much time had been taken.

“But not in a way that interrupts the last phase of the inquiry,” he added. “The inquiry needs to just get its head down and complete its work.”