is there a special tool to remove the inside panel of the rear door, i think it is held in place by about 20 clips, can i use a screw drive to pry it out?

The trade use a tool like a screwdriver with a vee grove.
Use a large flat blade screwdriver but have some spare clips as usually some will break off.

The clips that stay in the door rather than the trim pannel can be removed by wraping some wire around the grove in em a couple of times then get a pair of pliers on the wire and jobs a gud en. While you have the boot panel off give all the visible moving parts of the lock mechanism and linkages a good 3 in 1 oiling all over. Couldn't get my boot open last week! If you find out whats wrong with the wiper motor let me know cos mine works when it feels like it and I haven't got round to poking about in it yet. The removal tool or whatever you use to prise the panel off with needs to have a bit of meat to it other wise it would just bend. A 2" wall paper scraper would be ideal if it was a few times thicker. I used the thing carpet fitters use to prod the carpet onto grippa rail and into the corners with cos when they fitted me carpet they kindly left the tool behind

just a shot in the dark but does anyone have a trim removal tool i could borrow, i would pay for shipping and return it, i tried using a flat head screw driver but it started to chip the paint on the back of the door

I've got one of these - worth their weight in gold, usually get any panel off without any damage to panel or clips

Trim Removal Tool - Screwfix.com, Where the Trade Buys