British officials ‘ignored concerns over dossier claims’

SENIOR officials responsible for compiling the British government’s dossier on Iraqi weapons ignored concerns among the intelligence analysts about key claims in the document, the Hutton Inquiry was told yesterday.

The inquiry heard the "shutters came down" on the dossier before reservations among intelligence officials had a chance to be properly considered. In what was said to be a highly unusual move, the inquiry heard evidence that the Joint Intelligence Committee the senior body responsible for the dossier - did not even meet to discuss the final version.

The inquiry also heard how officials in the Defence Intelligence Staff (DIS) the intelligence arm of the Ministry of Defence had expressed resentment at what they saw as "political interference" in their work from Government "spin merchants".