Analysis: More embarrassing e-mails

By Torin Douglas BBC media correspondent

Last week it was the BBC which was embarrassed by e-mails it never thought would see the light of public gaze.

One showed the editor of the Today programme Kevin Marsh describing the original Andrew Gilligan story as "marred by flawed reporting". In another he described Alastair Campbell as "on the run, or bonkers, or both".

Today it was Downing Street's turn to have its e-mails dissected in public.

The inquiry was shown one from one of Tony Blair's closest advisers, his chief of staff Jonathan Powell, discussing the September dossier on Iraq's weapons of mass destruction.

In it, dated 17 September, he said there was no evidence in the dossier of an "imminent threat" from Iraq.

"The dossier is good and convincing for those who are prepared to be convinced," he said.

News agency Reuters reported: 'The e-mail is the first public sign of debate within Blair's inner circle about the strength of intelligence used to justify a war that most Britons opposed'

"The document does nothing to demonstrate a threat, let alone an imminent threat from Saddam... We will need to make it clear in launching the document that we do not claim that we have evidence that he is an imminent threat."

That prompted the headline in London's evening paper the Evening Standard: "No 10 rift on war dossier".

News agency Reuters reported: "The e-mail is the first public sign of debate within Blair's inner circle about the strength of intelligence used to justify a war that most Britons opposed."

Another e-mail, to Mr Powell from Alastair Campbell, the prime minister's director of communications, disclosed that the dossier was being substantially rewritten.

It said: "Re dossier, substantial rewrite with JS and Julian M in charge, which JS will take to US next Friday and be in shape Monday thereafter.

"Structure as per TB's discussion. Agreement that there has to be real intelligence material in their presentation."

"TB" was an apparent reference to Tony Blair, "JS" to John Scarlett, the chairman of the Joint Intelligence Committee, which Julian Miller was the chief of the assessment staff at the Cabinet Office.

That e-mail led to a Press Association headline: "No 10 authorised 'substantial rewrite' of Iraq dossier".

'Tighten the screw'

The most colourful e-mail to emerge was an outspoken one from the Prime Minister's official spokesman Tom Kelly - the man who later apologised for describing Dr David Kelly as a "Walter Mitty" figure.

Referring to the escalating row between the Government and the BBC, he said "This is now a game of chicken with the Beeb. The only way they'll shift, is if they see the screw tightening."

Monday's evidence went to the heart of Downing Street

That too was sent to Mr Powell, a man rarely seen - let alone heard - in public.

On Monday he was closely questioned for several hours about Downing Street's involvement in the events leading up to the death of Dr Kelly.

He was asked whether the "chicken" e-mail reflected the general atmosphere in Downing Street at that time in regard to the BBC.

Mr Powell said it was hard to judge, but there was a view that by that stage it was difficult for the BBC to back down over its story.

He said Tom Kelly, as a former BBC employee, had been trying to "find a ladder which the BBC could climb down gracefully and admit they were wrong."

Monday's evidence went to the heart of Downing Street.

Mr Powell described top level meetings involving the prime minister's closest advisers, as the government discussed how to react after a Ministry of Defence official - later revealed to be Dr Kelly - had come forward to say he had met the BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan.

Q&A sheet

They discussed whether to announce that the official had come forward and whether or not to tell two committees of MPs, which would want to interview him.

Earlier, the director of news at the Ministry of Defence, Pam Teare, had revealed that a question and answer sheet about Dr Kelly had been prepared for the department's press officers.

It had been agreed by the department's permanent secretary Sir Kevin Tebbitt that if a journalist put forward a name, they would confirm whether or not it was correct.

That night, it was confirmed to several newspapers that the official was indeed Dr David Kelly.