Hutton to revisit stories of key players
The Hutton inquiry is entering its final week of deliberations, with Tony Blair’s cabal of advisors again in the spotlight.
Key Cabinet ministers and the PM’s so-called spin doctors and press agents are to face the inquiry.
The judicial inquiry was set up in the wake of the apparent suicide of Dr David Kelly, the Iraqi weapons inspector believed to the “mole” in the BBC’s report that Downing Street “sexed up” an intelligence report on Iraq to bolster the case for war against Saddam Hussein’s fallen regime.
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon and the PM’s former director of communications Alastair Campbell will be cross-examined in the final days of the inquiry.
Mr Hoon is likely to be pursued on whether he was present at the meeting which authorised the “outing” of Dr Kelly.
Mr Campbell, for his part, will be re-examined on whether he doctored the September dossier. Mr Campbell told the inquiry he had “no input, output, no involvement’ in drawing up the dossier but evidence suggests that he asked John Scarlett, chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, to make 15 changes to the draft, a week before its publication on 24 September.
The changes include the controversial and pivotal 45-minutes clause.
On Tuesday, the PM’s official spokesmen, Tom Kelly and Godric Smith, will be cross-examined.
Mr Kelly described Dr Kelly, the much respected scientist, as a “Walter Mitty character” in a lobby briefing to journalists. He was forced to apologise for the remark.
On Thursday, Lord Hutton will hear closing submissions before adjourning to write his report.
Sir Kevin Tebbit, permanent secretary at the MoD, and Mr Scarlett, will also face stiff questions over their role in the tragedy.
