Howard calls for new Iraq probe

Tory leader Michael Howard arrives to view the Hutton report

Conservative leader Michael Howard has accepted the findings of the Hutton report, but called for a new inquiry into the reasons for the Iraq war.

Mr Howard said the case for an inquiry which went beyond Lord Hutton's remit was "overwhelming".

He also said the case for independent BBC regulation was "never stronger".

Mr Howard said Lord Hutton made it clear the September dossier had been "on one level sexed up", and said the nation would "deliver its verdict".

He contrasted the "dedicated scientist" Dr Kelly, with a "cabal" of ministers and advisers who he said were more concerned with a feud with the BBC than the weapons expert's welfare.

No one in Government can look back on this episode with pride Michael Howard

Mr Howard said the inquiry had shown Mr Blair chaired a meeting when a decision was made to issue a press release saying a civil servant had come forward as the potential source for the initial BBC story that an intelligence dossier had been "sexed up".

"Anyone with any sense would know that if you issue a press release like that, the name would come out.

"Is the Prime Minister the only person who thought that issuing that press release would not lead to the naming of David Kelly. Is he that naïve?"

Mr Howard said although Lord Hutton found the government had no "covert strategy" to name Dr Kelly, issuing that press release meant it did not need one.

HAVE YOUR SAY Michael Howard need not deliver an apology, for simply doing his job. He is the leader of the opposition and his job is to hold the government to account. Tom, London Send us your comments

"It was all going to happen anyway, as night follows day," he said.

He said the Hutton report made it clear that the Prime Minister's attitude may have "subconsciously" influenced intelligence staff to use stronger language in their dossier than normal.

Mr Blair should now accept that the claim that Iraq could launch weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes had received "undue prominence".

Mr Howard added that Lord Hutton had made no conclusion on apparent discrepancies between what Mr Blair told reporters on a flight to Hong Kong after Dr Kelly's death and his evidence to the inquiry.

He had merely found Mr Blair's comments on the flight "cast no light" on the issues the inquiry was investigating.

"No one in Government can look back on this episode with pride. The nation will, in due course, deliver its verdict," he said.