No recall for Parliament
Prime Minister Tony Blair has resisted the demand for Parliament to be recalled in the wake of the apparent suicide of Ministry of Defence expert, Dr David Kelly.
Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith has insisted Mr Blair must curtail his five-day trip to Asian countries and tidy up the “dodgy dossier” furore, which has ravaged his seemingly unassailable premiership.
The Government said it was 99% certain that the former UN weapons inspector was the “mole” in the BBC’s Today programme report in May, prepared by defence reporter Andrew Gilligan, which made the initial allegations in the “sexed up” dossier.
The Government believed the BBC would have to retract the claims if Mr Kelly was indeed their source.
Mr Kelly denied the accusations and the BBC refuses to name names. He was said to be highly stressed and “very, very, angry” after appearing before a parliamentary committee on Tuesday.
Mr Blair was visibly shocked by the news in Tokyo on Saturday. He said the death an “absolutely terrible tragedy.”
“I hope that we can set aside the speculation and the claims and the counterclaims and allow that due process to take its proper course.
“This is an absolutely terrible tragedy. I’m profoundly sad for David Kelly and his family.”
But the PM told Sky News that Parliament would not be recalled. A recall would “generate more heat than light.”
He said: “I think as the local Conservative MP said, recalling Parliament would generate more heat than light. I don’t think it would be appropriate.
“I think we should have a period of reflection and a period in which the judge can carry out the inquiry, and also allow the family time to grieve.”
Former cabinet minister Glenda Jackson told Sky News the PM should resign over the incident.
