Straw appears at a press conference with United States Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice. – Image via Wikipedia

Britain Refuses To Publish Cabinet Record Of Iraq War Decision

February 25, 2009
(RFE/RL) — The British government says it has vetoed publication of minutes from ministerial discussions about the legality of the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

Justice Secretary Jack Straw used the justification of “exceptional circumstances” to prevent publication of the cabinet records under the Freedom of Information Act.

In doing so, Straw overthrew a ruling by the British Information Tribunal, which had ordered the government to make available the records in the public interest.

Some lawmakers greeted his announcement with cries of “shame!”

Straw told the House of Commons that his decision to use the veto was motivated by his desire to avoid weakening the cabinet style of government, which he described as an integral part of British democracy.

“In short, the damage that disclosure of the minutes in this instance would do would far outweigh any corresponding public interest in their disclosure,” Straw said.

He said that a key feature of the cabinet style of government is that it provides a space for thought and debate in private, and that advantage of candor would be lost if ministers knew their deliberations could be made public at any time.

Normally in Britain, cabinet papers are kept closed for 30 years.

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