Campbell ‘wanted to leak BBC source’

ALASTAIR CAMPBELL considered secretly briefing a newspaper that the possible source of the BBC’s story on the Government’s Iraq weapons dossier had been uncovered.

The inquiry into the death of Government weapons expert Dr David Kelly heard that Mr Campbell the Downing Street communications chief had considered leaking the fact that the scientist had come forward without naming him.

Godric Smith, the British Prime Minister's official spokesman and Mr Campbell's deputy, told the inquiry that he had dissuaded Mr Campbell from going ahead with the plan warning it was a "bad idea".