Government Refuses To Answer Question On Legal Advice Until After Election

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Mon 25th Apr 2005

Liberal Democrat Sam Potts has today revealed that the Government has delayed answering questions on the date it first sought legal advice over the war until after the General Election.

Lord Lester, Liberal Democrat peer has applied under the Freedom of Information Act to find out when the Government first sought legal advice and has so far received three letters from the Government asking for further time. The latest letter delays the response until May 20th.

Commenting, Sam Potts said:

"The Government's repeated refusal to disclose the date on which it first sought legal advice about the legality of an invasion of Iraq shows the arrogance of power and Government hypocrisy.

ENDS