Iraq Costing UK Taxpayers £100 Million A Month
May 17, 2004 2:31 PM
Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor Dr Vince Cable today challenged the Government to come clean on the cost of war in Iraq. Dr Cable asked Defence Ministers to confirm estimates that the continuing price of occupation in Iraq is costing British taxpayers more than £100 million a month. He also asked Ministers to clarify how much had been spent by the Government on the invasion and subsequent occupation of Iraq; how much has been set aside in the budget for the continuing presence of UK troops, and for how long.
Vince Cable said: "Thirteen years ago, the 1991 Gulf conflict cost £2.3 billion. Like everything else, the cost of war today is much higher. In 1991, friendly Arab countries repaid 80% of the costs of that war, but the price of this conflict is being paid fully by British taxpayers.
"Because we went to war unilaterally with the United States, this time it is British and US taxpayers who are alone suffering the huge financial burden of war. The eventual cost to us - UK taxpayers - could be as much as £6 or £7 billion.
"This is a phenomenal sum of money. It is time the Government came clean and told us exactly how much is being spent in our name, especially if it plans to send even more troops to Iraq.
"The simple fact is there is no such thing as a free war. However, if Britain and America had followed the UN route, rather than insist on going it alone, much of this cost could have been shared with other countries, as happened in 1991. Instead President Bush's determination to go to war, and Tony Blair's determination to follow him, is now costing British taxpayers billions of our hard-earned money.
"The lesson for Tony Blair and Gordon Brown is that being unquestioningly cosy with George Bush has proved very expensive indeed."
Ends
Notes
1. Recent analysis of the costs of war in Iraq indicate that current costs are over £100m per month. On this basis funding will run out in January 2005.
2. Richard Cobbold of the Royal United Services Institute predicted almost a year ago that any future war in Iraq would cost more than double the £2.3 billion spent in the 1991 Gulf conflict a year on from the war.
3. Dr Vince Cable asked Ministers to clarify the costs of war in Iraq during Defence 1st Order PQs in the Commons today.
