Why is Nick Clegg’s statement on the Ir…

Why is Nick Clegg’s statement on the Iraq war being ‘illegal’ being called a ‘gaffe’?

Nick Clegg was tonight forced to clarify his position on the Iraq war after he stood up at the dispatch box of the House of Commons and pronounced the invasion illegal.

The deputy prime minister insisted he was speaking in a personal capacity, as a leading international lawyer warned that the statement by a government minister in such a formal setting could increase the chances of charges against Britain in international courts.

Philippe Sands, professor of law at University College London, said: “A public statement by a government minister in parliament as to the legal situation would be a statement that an international court would be interested in, in forming a view as to whether or not the war was lawful.”

It’s unsurprising Downing Street was quick to distance itself from Clegg’s comments (so much for the coalition): David Cameron, George Osborne, William Hague, etc all voted in favour of the (yes illegal) invasion of Iraq.