Who will take the blame?
David Kelly bled to death from slashed wrist;
His life was
made intolerable, say family;
Glenda Jackson calls for Blair's
resignation
By Andy McSmith, Political Editor
20 July 2003
The horrific death of a talented scientist haunted the footsteps of the Prime
Minister yesterday, halfway across the world.
Police disclosed that Dr David Kelly, the adviser caught up in a feud between
the Government and the BBC, bled to death in an Oxfordshire wood from a wound in
his left wrist after taking a knife and a packet of painkillers out on his last,
lonely walk from home.
Shortly before his death, Dr Kelly sent an email to a journalist complaining
that there were "many dark actors playing games" in his life.
And in a statement read to reporters by police yesterday, his family said
that "events over recent weeks have made David's life intolerable, and all of
those involved should reflect long and hard on this fact".
In Tokyo, Tony Blair pleaded for "restraint and respect" as an official
inquiry into the suspected suicide got under way. Looking strained and with his
voice cracking at times, he told journalists accompanying him on a tour of the
Far East: "Let me express my deep sorrow for the tragedy that has come
about.
"I don't think it is right for anyone, us or anyone else, to make a judgement
until we have the facts."
And today Mr Blair today ruled out recalling Parliament. He said a recall
would "generate more heat than light" and that Dr Kelly's family should be
allowed time to grieve.
But in London, one of his former ministers, Glenda Jackson, said that the
Prime Minister should resign, and take Alastair Campbell and Geoff Hoon with
him, after what she described as "an absolutely shameful, shameful episode". She
said: "Alastair Campbell's position is as shaky as those of the Prime Minister
and the Secretary of State for Defence. I think they should resign immediately.
I cannot see what benefits they are bringing to this country and, speaking
parochially, to my party, after this utterly shameful episode. The idea of that
poor man - it's unspeakable. There should be resignations and they should come
as quickly as possible."
Dr Kelly's suicide came two days after his televised appearance before the
Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, (FAC) but the statement from his family
suggested that the inner turmoil which led to his death had begun further
back.
It will have been set off by the possibility that he was the source quoted by
the BBC defence correspondent, Andrew Gilligan, when he alleged that Mr Blair's
staff had tampered with intelligence about Iraq's weaponry "to make it
sexier".
Dr Kelly approached his superiors within the Ministry of Defence to admit
that he had met Mr Gilligan. He was questioned by officials for five days, and
warned about his conduct. He was then named in a letter from Mr Hoon to the BBC
on 9 July. The name was leaked on the same day. As well as being questioned by
two Commons committees, one meeting in private, Dr Kelly had to move into a safe
house provided by the MoD for several days, to avoid the journalists outside his
home near Abingdon.
The circumstances leading to his death will be the subject of an inquiry
headed by a judge, Lord Hutton.
Yesterday, almost everyone involved denied being to blame. Speaking to the
BBC, Mr Hoon said he took the welfare of all his staff seriously but did not
accept that he had put pressure on Dr Kelly directly.
John Humphrys, presenter of Today, said it was "nonsense" to blame the BBC.
"After all, it wasn't we who named Dr Kelly; it wasn't we who called him before
an inquiry, a committee; it wasn't we who thrust him into the spotlight. To
suggest that somehow it's all our fault is bizarre."
Downing Street spokesman said: "The journalists who came up with David
Kelly's name know that we didn't provide it to them. Also, people recognise that
the original allegation was false, and the BBC had a chance to say sorry and
move on. To reduce this tragedy down to blaming Alastair Campbell is doing less
than justice to the truth."
The only _expression_ of regret was from Andrew Mackinlay, a member of the FAC
who has been criticised for his questioning of Dr Kelly. He said: "I am sorry
for any of the stress that, albeit unintentionally, I may have caused him during
his questioning."
A few hours before Dr Kelly killed himself, he sent an apparently optimistic
email to a friend, Professor Alastair Hay, who suggested yesterday that the
blame for his death should be shared by the Government and the BBC.
"You have this man hung out to dry and becoming the ball between two major
organisations," he said. "To be batted around the way he was, I just thought it
was intolerable."
A post-mortem examination revealed that Dr Kelly died of a haemorrhage as a
result of a cut to the left wrist ... A small knife has been
recovered
Official police statement
Events over recent weeks made David's life intolerable, and all of those
involved should reflect long and hard on this fact ... We are utterly
devastated
The family of Dr David Kelly
Alastair Campbell's position is as shaky as those of the Prime Minister and
the Secretary of State for Defence. I think that they should resign
immediately
Glenda Jackson MP
The appropriate procedures were followed inside the Ministry of Defence to
ensure Dr Kelly's rights were respected and properly handled
Geoff Hoon,
Secretary of State for Defence
I deeply regret Dr Kelly's death. I am sorry for any stress that, albeit
unintentionally, I may have caused him during his questioning before the select
committee
Andrew Mackinlay MP
After all, it wasn't the BBC who named Dr Kelly. It wasn't we who called him
before a parliamentary inquiry. It wasn't we who thrust him into the
spotlight
John Humphrys of the BBC
Additional reporting by Severin Carrell, James Morrison and Jo
Dillon
