Hugh confronts Blair over failure to act

HUGH ROBERTSON ATTACKS PM'S FAILURE OVER UN CORRUPTION SCANDAL THREATENING THE LIVES OF BRITISH TROOPS

Hugh Robertson has confronted Tony Blair in the House of Commons, demanding to know why he had failed to intervene over a corruption scandal at the UN, threatening the lives of British troops and civilians in Iraq.

The link between corruption at the UN during the oil for food scandal and the financing of the current insurgency in Iraq has been highlighted by reports from the Iraq Survey Group, the initial report of the Volker Inquiry and answers to questions in the House by both the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary.

Latest figures estimate that US$60bn was corrupted during the scandal in total with US$10bn going directly into the pockets of Saddam Hussein and his entourage. It is this money that is being used to fund the current insurgency.

The UN has admitted the corruption and set up the Volker Inquiry to investigate. However, it will take many years to report by which time all those implicated will have retired or disappeared from view.

Despite this, the Prime Minister has admitted that, regardless of the direct link to the safety of British personnel, he did not raise the issue at all during Kofi Annan’s recent visit to London.

Hugh said: “This issue is important for two reasons. Firstly, it highlighted the need for urgent reform at the UN that is vital if it to play its proper role in world affairs.

“However, secondly and more immediately, the corruption of UN officials, at a time when Kofi Annan was Secretary General and whilst the Security Council was earning US$3bn in fees for administering the programme, is directly affecting the safety of British personnel.

“I am utterly staggered that the Prime Minister did not regard this as sufficiently important to raise it directly with Kofi Annan.”