Teather Uncovers Iraq Troops Blunder

12.01.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 4th Feb 2007

After questions from local MP Sarah, the Labour Government were forced to admit sending under 18s to Iraq

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, has uncovered shocking information showing that the Government 'inadvertently' sent under 18 year olds to fight in Iraq.

Responding to Sarah Teather's question in parliament, the Defence Minister Adam Ingram was forced to admit that 17 year old men and women had been 'inadvertently deployed to Iraq before their 18th birthday'. Sarah, who was the only Brent MP to vote for an investigation into the Iraq war, has condemned this blunder.

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

'This is an inexcusable blunder by the Government and reveals a shocking level of incompetency.

'We have rules on under 18 year olds in conflict for a reason. There is no way such young teenagers are mentally or emotionally prepared to face bloodshed on the scale seen in Iraq.

'British troops should never have been in Iraq in the first place. Tony Blair owes an immediate apology to these young men and women who were sent to war before their 18th birthdays.

'I promised to take a stand against Iraq when I was elected, and I will continue to scrutinise the Government closely over their conduct of this disastrous war.'

Sarah is also calling for a controlled exit strategy from Iraq. She said:

'Our brave men and women have been in Iraq for long enough. We have done all we can and now our presence is just making the situation worse.

'The process of withdrawal should begin in May and end in October. The time is right to start bringing our troops back home.'

Related Link:

Read the Government's response to Sarah's parliamentary question.