Deadly Decisions: How the UK parliament voted for war against Iraq: Lessons learned 20 years later

Twenty years ago, the UK Parliament voted to go to war in Iraq, the first time Parliament had ever done so. There's been lots written about why the Labour government went to war, but not on why MPs voted in the way they did, and what influenced their decisions. By interviewing MPs, former MPs, Lords and Iraq experts, this report fills that gap. The vote was also significant in that it set a precedent whereby Parliament is expected to vote upon, where possible, British military action overseas. It approved military action in Libya in 2011 but rejected it regarding Syria in 2013. Given that MPs have acquired this huge responsibility, how can Parliament ensure that politicians are well briefed with the sufficient levels of understanding to scrutinise the government and make informed choices about the most significant decisions any MP has to make? This policy paper was written in partnership with Chris Doyle, director of Caabu.