Iraq War Inquiry: Miliband on the War

Miliband restates opposition to war

21 January 2011 - Labour leader Ed Miliband has reaffirmed his opposition to the Iraq war on the day one of his predecessors faced further calls to say the war was "a mistake".

Mr Miliband's long-scheduled visit to Scotland coincided with Tony Blair's emotional appearance at the Iraq War Inquiry and high-profile resignations at Westminster.

He met the family of Corporal Mark Wright, who died in Afghanistan in 2006. Following his visit to the Mark Wright Project in Midlothian, Mr Miliband said: "On Iraq I have said it was a mistake, and that has always been my position.

"On the question of Afghanistan, I support what the Government is doing. I think they've got the approach right, to set a timetable for troops to come home by around 2015 because I do think it was a mission motivated, rightly, by what happened on September 11, 2001, and the dangers of terrorism being harboured in Afghanistan.

"There's another point there which is, whether you are in favour of the war or against it, our troops are going there in the interests of our country. For us, as politicians, it is incredibly important that troops get the best possible support that they can, not only while they are serving but when they come home. {continued}