Ex-Ministers pile pressure on Blair over Kelly

Tony Blair was under continued pressure over the death of David Kelly today as his former ministers lined up to criticise his role in the affair.

As Lord Hutton was set to draw up a list of witnesses he believes should be cross-examined at the inquiry into Dr Kelly’s death, the British Prime Minister was warned that Geoff Hoon must not be “the only one who carries the can”.

The British Defence Secretary, almost certainly top of the senior law lord’s “recall” list which is expected to be revealed at the end of this week, is in the firing line for not telling the inquiry the extent of his role in the strategy to name Dr Kelly.

But former British Labour defence minister Doug Henderson said it was clear that Downing Street had played a part in the controversial plan, whereby Dr Kelly’s name became public after a trail of clues from the Ministry of Defence.

Mr Henderson’s remarks followed a broadside by former International Development Secretary Clare Short, who accused No 10 and the MoD of an “abuse of power” which drove the Iraq weapons expert to suicide.

Mr Blair faces a tough time from MPs on Wednesday when he takes his first Prime Minister’s Questions since Dr Kelly was found with his wrist slashed in Oxfordshire woodland on July 18.

But his embattled Defence Secretary is almost certain to come under pressure from the opposition benches on the Kelly affair when he announces, as expected, a major troop deployment in the Commons today.

Mr Henderson said last night: “If the government are found to be in error by Hutton, the decisions, or the main decisions have clearly been taken in Downing Street and if not actually there, then they have been a party to the decisions, they have known what’s going on, and if they wanted to change it they could have.

“If Geoff Hoon has to go I think it would be extremely unfair if he was the only person who was in the firing line,” he told the BBC Radio 4 The Westminster Hour programme.

Asked if Mr Blair would have to resign, Mr Henderson said: “I am not saying that. What I am saying is that whoever in Downing Street made the decision, we should know that and I believe that they should also be responsible for that decision.

“If Hutton says the gravity of the situation is such that there should be resignations, then it shouldn’t just be Geoff Hoon.”

Ms Short, writing in the Independent on Sunday, said Dr Kelly’s life had been made “hell” by No 10, Britain's MoD, Joint Intelligence Committee chairman John Scarlett and MPs on the Foreign Affairs Committee, who she said had used the scientist to get at the BBC.

She also criticised Mr Blair for “a lack of respect for proper procedure, and a willingness to be economical with the actuality”.

The resignation of Mr Campbell and the testimonies of senior intelligence analysts that the dossier was “over-egged” by “spin merchants” reflected a “disease that has corroded the integrity of the Blair government”, she said.

Britain's Transport Secretary Alistair Darling urged restraint until Lord Hutton publishes his report later this year.

But, speaking on the Sky News Sunday With Adam Boulton programme yesterday, he added: “When we get his (Lord Hutton’s) report I suspect there will be lessons to be learnt, not just on the government’s part, but on the BBC’s part, on other people’s part.”

A poll published at the weekend in Britain revealed that the majority of people think Mr Blair should resign over the death of Dr Kelly.

The YouGov poll for The Mail on Sunday showed that the revelations thrown up by the Hutton Inquiry have damaged the British Prime Minister, with 43% of voters believing he should quit, compared with 37% before the hearing opened.

A total of 42% believed he should stay in office while 15% were not sure.

Some 62% called for Mr Hoon’s resignation, with only 14% wanting him to stay.

Significantly, while Britain's Labour voters rallied round Mr Blair in the poll, 41% of the party’s supporters wanted Mr Hoon to resign, with only 30% believing he should stay.

YouGov questioned 2,006 adults throughout Britain on September 4 and 5.