Blair spokesmen face Hutton Inquiry

Leading British civil servants are today telling what they know about events leading up to the death of Iraqi weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

The British Prime Minister Tony Blair’s two official spokesmen – Godric Smith and Tom Kelly – were joining Sir Kevin Tebbit, permanent under secretary at the Ministry of Defence, in giving evidence to Lord Hutton’s inquiry at the High Court.

Sir Kevin was expected to explain how he ordered officials in the British MoD to try to find out the source of the BBC story about intelligence concerns surrounding the British government’s Iraqi weapons dossier.

Sir Kevin was also to be asked about his advice to Geoff Hoon – overruled by the Defence Secretary – not to require Dr Kelly to give evidence in public to the Commons foreign affairs select committee.

Mr Kelly was expected to face an uncomfortable session.

Earlier this month, Mr Kelly was confirmed as the Downing Street official who described Dr Kelly as a “Walter Mitty”-style fantasist.

He had to make a public apology to Dr Kelly’s family ahead of the scientist’s funeral.

And this week the Hutton inquiry heard about an e-mail from Mr Kelly to No 10 chief of staff Jonathan Powell in which he said of Downing Street’s row with the BBC: “This is now a game of chicken with the Beeb. The only way they will shift is if they see the screw tightening.”

Mr Smith was thrust into the limelight after the British government’s director of communications and strategy, Alastair Campbell, decided after the last election to cease appearing in person at the twice daily briefings to political correspondents.

From supportive deputy Mr Smith, in tandem with Mr Kelly, took on the job of briefing reporters on the British government’s activities.

He announced earlier this year, however, that he would leave his post within the next few months.

The inquiry, headed by Lord Hutton, was set up to investigate how Dr Kelly apparently came to take his own life after being identified as the source of the report by BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan on May 29.