PM’s credibility hit by Kelly scandal
A new ICM opinion poll for The Daily Telegraph finds the public increasingly distrustful of the Blair government in the wake of the apparent suicide of Dr David Kelly.
The survey of 658 people – undertaken between the 21st and 23rd of August – shows that the PM’s credibility has been tarnished by the affair.
The Telegraph highlighted the finding that over half of Labour voters in 2001 now question the government’s role in the events leading up to Dr Kelly’s death.
Sixty one per cent of those surveyed believed the government had “sexed up” the September intelligence dossier on Iraq’s capacity to launch lethal weapons to bolster the case for war against Saddam Hussein’s dictatorship.
Over half of all respondents said Geoff Hoon should “carry the can” and resign for his part in the scandal.
But there is some good for the PM as only a third of all voters said he ought to resign, with 27 per cent of Labour voters backing his departure from No 10.
Fifty five per cent of respondents said the government should take most of the blame for the scientist’s death.
Forty three per cent of those questioned said Dr Kelly was culpable for his embroilment in the “dodgy dossier” scandal. Forty per cent blamed the BBC.
