So Gordon Brown has finally set out plans for an inquiry into the Iraq war. Something tat the Lib Dems have been calling for years. But there are problems.

Firstly, he says it will be held in private and secondly it will take over a year – ie taking it past the date of the next general election.

So far as holding the inquiry is concerned, I appreciate the need to guard state secrets, operational issues etc BUT there is a need to satisfy public concern and in some quarters , outrage at being led into an illegal war. Therefore there is a need to to have an element in the public domain, because there is a need to put the record straight, to come clean and to remove any doubt or concern over a potential cover up or white wash over events that transpired.

As for conveniently publishing the findings after the General Election, well I suppose its no real surprise. I doubt that there is anyone outside the Cabinet and certainly the Labour party that wouldn’t believe that this is being “managed” to minimise the impact, and I suspect that the publication date of the report is merely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to damage limitation.

So much for open government.