Blair must say sorry for Kelly smear - Duncan Smith

British Prime Minister Tony Blair must apologise for the attempt to smear Iraq mole Dr David Kelly, Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said today.

Mr Blair’s official spokesman Tom Kelly has said sorry for suggesting the dead weapons expert was a “Walter Mitty” fantasist.

Now Mr Duncan Smith has broken his silence on the affair to demand the PM follows suit.

Details of Mr Kelly’s private briefing to journalists came just before Dr Kelly’s funeral on Wednesday.

They followed Mr Blair’s call for “respect and restraint” ahead of Lord Hutton’s inquiry into his death.

Mr Duncan Smith said: “Even while the Government was publicly trying to show remorse at the tragic death of Dr Kelly, this last week behind the scenes we witnessed yet more of this Government’s black arts at work.

“The attempt by Tom Kelly, the Prime Minister’s official spokesman, to cheapen the record of Dr Kelly off the record, even before his funeral had taken place, was appalling.

“We should not simply allow it to be dismissed as an unauthorised mistake.

“It is what 10 Downing Street has been doing for far too long.

“Malicious briefings are part of their culture and Tom Kelly was only presenting the agreed counter-attack briefing from No 10.

“The fault line goes right to the top. It is surely Mr Blair who must apologise. After all Tom Kelly, Alistair Campbell, and all of their spin-doctors ultimately work for him.”

The Tory leader had not commented in the days around the funeral but spoke out on the eve of Lord Hutton’s first full-day hearing.

“All of us were deeply shocked by the tragic death of Dr Kelly,” Mr Duncan Smith said.

“Last week our thoughts were with his widow, his family and friends, as we paid our respects to a man who served his country as a Nobel-nominated scientist and a leading expert on weapons of mass destruction.

“Now that Dr Kelly’s funeral has taken place, attention will inevitably focus on the Hutton inquiry.

“Lord Hutton has a reputation for independence and integrity. I have every confidence that he will establish the precise circumstances of Dr Kelly’s death and the role that the Ministry of Defence – or even Downing Street itself - played in releasing Dr Kelly’s name to the media.”

However, Mr Duncan Smith repeated his call for the inquiry to be broadened to include the creation of two controversial Government dossiers on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction.

Dr Kelly slashed his wrist at a beauty spot after being outed as the source for BBC claims Downing Street had “sexed up” the intelligence one of the documents, published in September.

The Tory leader said: “This latest episode of Downing Street’s unwarranted involvement in the Dr Kelly affair is why I have asked for Lord Hutton to be given a remit that allows him to examine all the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Kelly.

“I have argued that the processes leading up to the September dossier on Iraq’s weapons of mass destruction are inseparable from the Dr Kelly’s death, and I have repeatedly made the case for as wide and open an inquiry as possible.

“I also still believe it would be a good thing for Lord Hutton’s inquiry to have the power to take evidence under oath. The public demand this.

“The Government’s credibility depends on it. I hope that Lord Hutton’s inquiry is able to deliver it.”

The Tory leader also warned: “The British people yearn for honest and straightforward politics.

“They are sick of behind the scenes briefings, and inappropriate or insensitive statements from senior officials and Ministers.

“Should Lord Hutton’s inquiry be subject to any attempts at political interference, it will only reinforce the public perception that the conduct of this Government is both unacceptable and undesirable.”

The Hutton inquiry looks set to be a difficult and damaging affair for both the BBC and Downing Street.

Journalist Andrew Gilligan, who made the accusation that started the ferocious war between them, will be among those giving evidence at the High Court in London this week.

Other BBC witnesses will include Newsnight science correspondent Susan Watts, reporter Gavin Hewitt and director of news Richard Sambrook.

Mr Gilligan is likely to face the most intensive scrutiny.

Dr Kelly told MPs before his death he did not see how what he had told the journalist could form the basis of his reports.

However, the scientist was confirmed as the prime source after apparently committing suicide at a beauty spot close to his Oxfordshire home.

Mr Gilligan was branded an “unsatisfactory witness” by the committee of MPs investigating his claims.

However, the inquiry will open with evidence on Dr Kelly’s expertise which is expected to contrast starkly with suggestions he was a fantasist.