British government in new Kelly row after 'Walter Mitty' smear

12.00pm

LONDON - John Prescott, the British Deputy Prime Minister, ordered ministers and officials to demonstrate respect and decency towards the family of David Kelly last night after a Whitehall source had described him as a "Walter Mitty" fantasist.

Downing Street engaged in a frantic damage limitation exercise as colleagues of Dr Kelly accused the Government of sinking to a new low so close to his funeral tomorrow, and said that his family were hurt and appalled at the attempt to portray him as a fantasist.

The Independent revealed yesterday that a Whitehall official believed Dr Kelly had misled both the Ministry of Defence and the BBC journalist Andrew Gilligan over claims that a dossier issued last September to justify war in Iraq had been "sexed up".

Mr Prescott made it clear that he did not believe Dr Kelly's reputation merited the Walter Mitty description, and he ordered Sir Andrew Turnbull, the Cabinet Secretary, to instruct staff to show respect.

Mr Prescott said: "I trust that no one in Government would comment on Dr Kelly at such a sensitive time, before the funeral and while the Hutton inquiry [into Dr Kelly's death] is under way. I have emphasised this point to the Cabinet Secretary."

The Prime Minister's spokeswoman stressed that the official's conversation with The Independent was not intended as an expression of the Government's view of Dr Kelly. She said: "Any conversation was simply looking at the questions for all concerned that the inquiry would have to answer. It was not intended as an official briefing, nor does it reflect the Government's view, which is that only the Hutton inquiry can answer those questions."

Alastair Hay, professor of environmental toxicology at the University of Leeds, said he was "appalled". He told BBC Radio 4's PM programme: "I thought the Prime Minister was calling for some decency and for people to hold off. The fact that there seems to be some attempt to undermine Dr Kelly, who is not in a position to defend himself, is incredible.

"But I also find the claims about Dr Kelly staggering. It's certainly not the man I knew. I don't think there's anyone in Britain who had his experience of biological warfare."

Richard Butler, the Australian who headed the Unscom weapons inspection team which included Dr Kelly, also said any attempt to brand the scientist a fantasist was "distasteful".

"This was a man who was welded to the truth and had a deep experience in Iraq," Mr Butler told the programme. "He was an expert in biology and biological weapons. Any attempt to paint him in other colours, I think, is distasteful. That is not a description of David Kelly as I knew him."

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INDEPENDENT

British Parliament Foreign Affairs Committee transcript:

Evidence of Dr David Kelly

Key players in the 'sexed-up dossier' affair

Herald Feature: Iraq