Renewed calls for Hoon to resign after reportedly calling Kelly ‘no martyr’

BRITISH Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon was last night accused of “bullying” after he reportedly said the Government weapons expert David Kelly was “no martyr” and that he took his life because he feared he would be exposed as a liar.

Tory defence spokesman Nicholas Soames renewed his calls for Mr Hoon to resign, saying his comments were "all of a piece" with the Government's actions in dealing with the scientist.

The pressure on Mr Hoon seen as a potential casualty of the Hutton report due to be published next week increased after the Sunday Times reported comments he was said to have made last week to friends about Dr Kelly.