Watching Hoon Part 2

By Mark Davies
BBC News Online political reporter at the Hutton inquiry

Geoffrey William Hoon appeared on Monday in court room 73 at the Royal Courts of Justice having already been found guilty by some over his role in the Ministry of Defence's treatment of Dr David Kelly.

Indeed, the defence secretary has already been sentenced to the backbenches by many a headline writer.

And so, as is fitting on such occasions, he wore a dark suit and a sombre expression. Just one other thing, though: as far as Mr Hoon was concerned there is still a long way to go in this particular case.

Many commentators believe Geoff Hoon's career is on the line

However, the second appearance at the Hutton Inquiry of the apparently condemned man seemingly failed to capture the public's imagination.

There were no queues outside, and just a handful of anti-war protesters at the entrance to the building.

But if it was quiet outside, there was a buzz in court as Mr Hoon sipped water in the witness box.

Under questioning from the ministry's legal team, the defence secretary was calm and composed, his deep, ponderous voice set with a tinge of defiance.

When quizzed by Jonathan Caldecott, for the BBC, he struggled slightly with the well-disguised change of pace from a lawyer who delivers questions like a spin bowler - you never know quite what to expect when he steps up to the crease.

Yellow notes

However, faced with the tenacious Jeremy Gompertz on behalf of the Kelly family, he became strident and even a little uppity. If he really is going down, then he'd clearly decided to go down with a fight.

Indeed, he even tried to second-best Mr Gompertz, cross-examining him and criticising his approach. There was a "simplistic description". Mr Gompertz made "a very bad point". He did not "properly understand" one point. Another was "not based on anything particularly sensible".

It had the mark of a General Custer asking: "Before you slaughter us all, can I just make a few brief points?" and then going on to criticise his tormentor's dress sense.

But he didn't give up. Suggesting a conspiracy to name Dr Kelly on the part of the government was not an argument a "reasonable person" would make, said Mr Hoon.

"Well, thank you for that, Mr Hoon," said Mr Gompertz, to laughter.

The defence secretary continued his assault: the lawyer, he alleged, had "seriously misled" the inquiry over one piece of evidence.

"I don't seem to be doing very well, Mr Hoon, in your judgement," said Mr Gompertz.

...there might have been judgements (which may have had) an effect which are within a range of judgements that people can take when confronted with these situations Geoff Hoon, asked if any mistakes were made

The tactic was all very well, but it went wrong when Mr Hoon admitted he was looking at the wrong piece of paper in his red file - attached with dozens of yellow index notes, one of which got stuck to his elbow - over a Downing Street briefing.

Mr Hoon is, of course, well versed in the legal process, having been called to the bar before politics took over. And politics was to the fore when he was asked if he accepted mistakes had been made over Dr Kelly's treatment.

The defence secretary could "see that there might have been judgements" which may have had "an effect which are within a range of judgements that people can take when confronted with these situations".

But outside that range, and with hindsight, people "might have judged that the decisions could have been taken slightly differently". All of which was crystal clear.