The Iraq Inquiry - Bob Ainsworth didn't sound very convincing

When the BBC put up tonight's 5pm PM programme, do take a listen to the interview with Bob Ainsworth. Eddie Mair (not Carolyn Quinn as scheduled asked the questions I would have wanted asking and Bob Ainsworth tries to first defend the indefensible and then attack the interviewer "dripping with sarcasm" was, I believe, the charge laid against Eddie Mair. I did like the way Eddie Mair repeated the point that this inquiry would be in private, would not apportion blame, could not compel witnesses to intend and witnesses would not be on oath in a less sarcastic voice; a nice touch.

This Iraq inquiry is designed to try and push the Iraq issue out of the election equation and so regain at least some of the voters who have left Labour for the LibDems, to help convince the Muslim vote that Labour is still the natural home for their votes and to ensure that the real truth behind the Iraq war does not come out.