Hutton delayed by a week
The verdict of the judicial inquiry into the apparent suicide of Iraqi weapons expert Dr David Kelly has been delayed by a week as Lord Hutton puts the final touches to his report.
The findings will now appear sometime after January 19.
The Hutton report will assess claims by the BBC that Downing Street “sexed up” an intelligence dossier on Iraq’s capacity to launch weapons of mass destruction in 2002. Lord Hutton will assess the extent to which the affair impacted on the life and credibility of Dr Kelly.
Tony Blair faces a tough couple of months, with the ramifications of Hutton and the outcome of the Commons vote on the Government’s plans to allow universities to charge top-up fees likely to hit his popularity as leader.
Meanwhile, Gavyn Davies, chairman of the BBC, has ruled out root and branch reform of the Corporation’s governance following Hutton.
He rejected the need to overhaul the regulatory role of the BBC’s board of governors, saying it would be “premature” to do so.
Mr Davies also called for reflection before coupling the recommendations from the Hutton report with the forthcoming review of the BBC’s 10- year Royal Charter, due to expire in two years’ time.
But Tessa Jowell, Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, said Lord Hutton’s inquiry would form part of the review “where relevant.”
Ms Jowell stressed the review would not be used to slake revenge against the BBC.
“I’ve said right from the outset of the Charter review process and the announcement of the inquiry by Lord Hutton that where relevant the Charter review will obviously pick up any issues which form part of the conclusions of the Hutton report.”
She said she would consider requests for the BBC’s regulatory structures to come under Ofcom’s remit.
“While the Communications Bill was making its passage through parliament, I made absolutely clear that this issue would be returned to in the course of Charter review.
“Governance of the BBC is always one of the issues considered.”
