Reporter Gilligan quits the BBC

Reporter Andrew Gilligan, whose Today programme report sparked the Hutton Inquiry, has resigned from the BBC, he said in a statement tonight.

Mr Gilligan conceded that some of his story on the intelligence dossier about Iraq weapons of mass destruction before the war, was wrong, adding: “I again apologise for it. My departure is at my own initiative. But the BBC collectively has been the victim of a grave injustice.”

He said he had not been forced to resign but was quitting to protect the institution he “loved”.

In the lengthy statement, Mr Gilligan said: “I love the BBC and I am resigning because I want to protect it. I accept my part in the crisis which has befallen the organisation. But a greater part has been played by the unblanced judgments of Lord Hutton.”

He insisted the British government had “sexed up” its dossier – despite Lord Hutton’s finding that it had not.

And he paid tribute to ex-director general Greg Dyke who he described as “the finest” director general for a generation who should not have quit.

His resignation follows the top-level departures of director-general Greg Dyke and chairman Gavyn Davies.