lennart
17-08-03, 11:25
Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon has reportedly told colleagues he expects his ministerial career to be over following the death of government weapons expert Dr David Kelly.
Mr Hoon telephoned colleagues last week to tell them he anticipated he would have to "fall on his sword" over the affair, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
Last week it emerged at the inquiry into the scientist's death that Mr Hoon had over-ruled his most senior civil servant to order Dr Kelly to appear before MPs investigating the Iraq weapons row.
Ministry of Defence permanent secretary Kevin Tebbit had recommended Dr Kelly should not have to appear before the Commons foreign affairs committee.
He asked Mr Hoon "show some regard for the man himself", who was unused to being in the public eye, the Hutton Inquiry heard.
But the paper claims Mr Hoon has told friends he believes that the disclosure that his office had argued it would be "presentationally" difficult if Dr Kelly did not give evidence to the committee could spell the end of his Cabinet career.
The inquiry is examining the circumstances surrounding Dr Kelly's apparent suicide after he was named as the possible source of a BBC report claiming Downing Street "sexed up" Iraq's weapons capability to help make the case for war.
Elsewhere lawyers acting for the government have flown out to see Downing Street communications chief Alastair Campbell at his French holiday home ahead of his appearance before the inquiry next week, according to the Observer.
'Forensic' preparation
The paper says he will be taken "forensically" through the evidence he is to give to the inquiry, where he is likely to be asked about his role in preparing the dossier and his involvement in Dr Kelly's name becoming public.
Mr Campbell has been at the heart of the row since BBC defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan said his source had claimed the communications chief was responsible for "transforming" last September's dossier in the week before publication.
Other inquiry witnesses will include Number 10 chief of staff Jonathan Powell and Tom Kelly, the spokesman who suggested Iraq weapons expert Dr Kelly was a "Walter Mitty" character.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3157477.stm
De Britse regering is duidelijk in problemen en de echte problemen worden nog niet eens onderzocht (de redenen om ten strijde te trekken). Geoff Hoon biedt zich aan als de fall-guy, maar ook Campbell zal eraan moeten geloven denk ik.
Mr Hoon telephoned colleagues last week to tell them he anticipated he would have to "fall on his sword" over the affair, according to the Sunday Telegraph.
Last week it emerged at the inquiry into the scientist's death that Mr Hoon had over-ruled his most senior civil servant to order Dr Kelly to appear before MPs investigating the Iraq weapons row.
Ministry of Defence permanent secretary Kevin Tebbit had recommended Dr Kelly should not have to appear before the Commons foreign affairs committee.
He asked Mr Hoon "show some regard for the man himself", who was unused to being in the public eye, the Hutton Inquiry heard.
But the paper claims Mr Hoon has told friends he believes that the disclosure that his office had argued it would be "presentationally" difficult if Dr Kelly did not give evidence to the committee could spell the end of his Cabinet career.
The inquiry is examining the circumstances surrounding Dr Kelly's apparent suicide after he was named as the possible source of a BBC report claiming Downing Street "sexed up" Iraq's weapons capability to help make the case for war.
Elsewhere lawyers acting for the government have flown out to see Downing Street communications chief Alastair Campbell at his French holiday home ahead of his appearance before the inquiry next week, according to the Observer.
'Forensic' preparation
The paper says he will be taken "forensically" through the evidence he is to give to the inquiry, where he is likely to be asked about his role in preparing the dossier and his involvement in Dr Kelly's name becoming public.
Mr Campbell has been at the heart of the row since BBC defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan said his source had claimed the communications chief was responsible for "transforming" last September's dossier in the week before publication.
Other inquiry witnesses will include Number 10 chief of staff Jonathan Powell and Tom Kelly, the spokesman who suggested Iraq weapons expert Dr Kelly was a "Walter Mitty" character.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/3157477.stm
De Britse regering is duidelijk in problemen en de echte problemen worden nog niet eens onderzocht (de redenen om ten strijde te trekken). Geoff Hoon biedt zich aan als de fall-guy, maar ook Campbell zal eraan moeten geloven denk ik.