Hoon to face Kelly grilling

Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon is preparing to fight for his political life at the inquiry into Dr David Kelly's death.

Mr Hoon faces questions on his role in the identification of Dr Kelly as the source behind the BBC report that No 10 "sexed up" the dossier on Iraq's banned weapons.

He will be quizzed on why he overruled Ministry of Defence permanent secretary Sir Kevin Tebbit to insist that Dr Kelly appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee (FAC) days before the weapons expert apparently took his own life.

Lord Hutton will also want to know why the minister appeared to pressurise the FAC and the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) not to ask Dr Kelly about his opinion of the dossier's claim that Iraq could launch an attack in 45 minutes.

Mr Hoon will also have to explain what he meant when he raised the prospect of a "plea bargain" for Dr Kelly.

There has been speculation in Westminster that Mr Hoon will be the highest-profile casualty of the Kelly affair, with reports that the minister has accepted he will be the Government's "fall guy".

But Mr Hoon, who returned from a three-week holiday to the US on Monday, is said to be ready to fight to save his Cabinet career.

Ann Taylor, chairman of the ISC and former Leader of the Commons, and two MoD officials, will also take the witness stand on day 10 of the inquiry.

They will set the stage for Prime Minister Tony Blair, whose own role in drawing up the September 2002 dossier and in events leading to the death of Dr Kelly will be scrutinised by Lord Hutton tomorrow.

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