The spectre of the Iraq war hangs over Westminster as MPs grapple with the implications of US and Israeli strikes on Iran. Labour MP Calvin Bailey, a former wing commander who served in Iraq, has urged colleagues to learn from the mistakes of the past rather than dwell on them. Speaking after a meeting with Prime Minister Keir Starmer, Bailey emphasised the importance of applying lessons from the Chilcot inquiry to current decision-making.
Starmer has sought to reassure MPs that the government remembers the 'mistakes of Iraq' and will act lawfully with a 'viable thought-through plan'. His stance has drawn rebukes from US President Donald Trump, who accused him of not being 'Winston Churchill', and from Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch, who painted him as weak. However, many Labour MPs back Starmer's approach, which has included denying the US permission for strikes aimed at regime change while allowing limited defensive operations from British bases.
Bailey, who wrote a handbook on military operations based on the Chilcot report, said Starmer's decisions have been consistent with its guidance. He warned against viewing the current crisis solely through the lens of 2003, arguing that the real lesson of Iraq is to avoid groupthink and ensure proper planning. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey, who voted against the Iraq war, offered cautious praise for Starmer's handling of the situation.
