SHORTLY after a bruised and battered Gordon Brown promised “a new era of democratic renewal” he announced an inquiry into the war in Iraq will take place – behind closed doors.

I accept there will be issues which are militarily sensitive and they should be held in private, but the whole inquiry should, in the interest of transparency and public confidence, be held in public.

This shoddy Government, which railroaded this country into a pointless and futile war on the back of untruths and shrouded mystery, owes it at least to the kin of those who have made the ultimate sacrifice to allow the truth to be known, and those responsible for this debacle (where is he by the way?) to be publicly challenged and, where appropriate, vilified.

How can anyone believe the promises Gordon Brown has made in his recent rebranding with the announcement of this apology of an inquiry?

Colin T Mortimer, Pity Me, Durham.