Downing Street denies “Walter Mitty” slur
Downing Street officials have attempted to distance the government from a comment made by a senior official that it saw weapons expert Dr David Kelly as a “Walter Mitty” character.
Dr Kelly, whose funeral will be held on Wednesday, apparently killed himself after becoming embroiled in a row between the BBC and the government over allegations of intelligence evidence doctoring.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman commented today on the newspaper report that quoted a “senior Whitehall source” as saying Dr Kelly had misled the government and BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan over Iraq’s weapons programmes.
The reference to Walter Mitty relates to a character created by American comic author James Thurber who fantasised about being a hero.
The article in today’s Independent newspaper states that the official claimed Dr Kelly had not revealed the extent of his contacts with Mr Gilligan to Ministry of Defence officials, and had led Mr Gilligan to believe he knew more than he did.
However, Tony Blair’s spokesman said this morning, “I don’t know where this comment has come from, but we do want to make it absolutely clear that nobody with either the prime minister’s or anybody else in Downing Street’s approval would say such a thing.
“The prime minister has called for restraint from the outset while Lord Hutton carries out his inquiry and I would like to repeat that today, as it has got particular resonance with the funeral this week.”
Paul Waugh, the Independent’s deputy political editor, has announced that he stands firmly by his story telling BBC Radio 4’s the World at One programme, “I rang a senior person within Downing Street who then was very forthcoming, almost with a pre-prepared line about Walter Mitty.”
Asked if he had taped the conversation, Mr Waugh replied, “I can tell you for a fact they did say such a thing and if I, for example, had a tape of the conversation, then the whole world would know that Number 10 did say such a thing.”
Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrats foreign affairs spokesman, said if the report was accurate, “This is the most tasteless intervention one could imagine at a time when Dr Kelly’s funeral has not yet taken place.”
Defence secretary Geoff Hoon will not attend Dr Kelly’s funeral as he is on holiday. Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, will instead represent the government.
The spokesman insisted today that the Kelly family is happy to have Mr Prescott attend Wednesday’s funeral.
He said: “My understanding is that the family are happy with the arrangements that have been made and we feel it is appropriate that the deputy prime minister attends.
“It is a family funeral and it would be inappropriate for anybody to suggest who should be there and who should not be there. It is up to the family. It’s their day.”
Richard Butler, the Australian who headed the Unscom weapons inspection team dismissed attempts to discredit the scientist, saying, “This was a man who was welded to the truth and had a deep experience in Iraq. He was an expert in biology and biological weapons.”
“Any attempt to paint him in other colours, I think, is distasteful. That is not a description of David Kelly as I knew him.”
