Straw adviser backed naming of Kelly, reveal internal memos

OFFICIALS at British foreign secretary Jack Straw's Foreign Office agreed to government weapons expert Dr David Kelly's name being made public, it has emerged.

Documents released by the Hutton Inquiry, and highlighted by The Independent newspaper, include internal memos relating to the issue of whether the late Iraq weapons expert's name should be made public.

In an e-mail copied to senior figures in the government including Alastair Campbell, Tony Blair's then director of strategy and communications Peter Ricketts, Mr Straw's political adviser, stated: "I don't think there is a problem for us if the press name him [Dr Kelly]. "No need for us to be defensive; so I agree with John that if the name is presented to us, we should confirm. But let's do it in an organised way.