Tuesday, July 05, 2016

Anti-war newspaper is blocked from reporting as Chilcot report on Iraq is published

This is a repost from Great Britain's SOCIALIST WORKER:



Anti-war newspaper is blocked from reporting as Chilcot report on Iraq is published

by Nick Clark                

Socialist Worker has been blocked from reporting from the publication of the Chilcot report into the Iraq war.

A press spokesperson told Socialist Worker last week that its reporters would not be given access to the official media event.

The Chilcot report is set to be published on 6 July. It is reported to contain heavy criticism of warmonger and former Labour prime minister Tony Blair for his role in launching the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

The official publication event in central London will include a media “lock-in” where journalists will get a first look at the report’s executive summary.

There will also be a statement from the report’s author John Chilcot.

Despite applying for press access several weeks ago, Socialist Worker was told its reporter would not be allowed in due to “a limited number of spaces”.

Socialist Worker has consistently opposed the war on Iraq. We have reported from inside the anti-war movement since the launch of the Stop the War Coalition in 2001.

We exposed Blair’s lies while other newspapers fell in behind the war.

Journalists from many of those newspapers will have access to the event.