Government admits CIA flights landed in Britain and Iraq has cost £4 billion

3.00.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Tue 7th Mar 2006

One of the CIA jets

In a letter to Sir Menzies Campbell MP, the Government last night admitted for the first time that aircraft suspected of being used by the CIA to transport detainees to secret interrogation centres had landed at British military airfields. Michael Moore, Liberal Democrat Foreign Affairs spokesperson said "Another week, another grudging admission from the Government. There is now a well-established pattern of partial disclosures after repeated denials. These are disturbing revelations. Were these rendition flights or not? Ministers must urgently obtain answers from the US Government."

The Government has also admitted the invasion and occupation of Iraq has cost British taxpayers more than £4 billion. Vince Cable, Liberal Democrat Shadow Chancellor (who forced the admission) said "This is an uncomfortable reminder that in addition to the loss of life of British servicemen and Iraqi civilians and the damage to our political reputation, there is a very real and major economic cost."