PM faces Tory attack over Kelly naming

Prime Minister Tony Blair has faced a sustained attacked from Conservatives over the naming of Iraq mole Dr David Kelly.

Mr Blair insists he did not sanction the leak and has urged opponents to wait for Lord Hutton's report on Dr Kelly's death.

But Tory leader Michael Howard published a 50-page dossier intended to undermine the PM's credibility.

In a foreword, the Tory leader said it did not prejudge Lord Hutton's inquiry but simply gave voters the "raw facts".

"It is clearly now vital that as much information as possible is made available to the public about the role of the Prime Minister and others in the 'circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Kelly'," he wrote.

"I hope that this compendium will contribute to a greater public understanding of, and debate about, these tragic events in the run up to the publication of Lord Hutton's report."

The Government scientist was found dead at a beauty spot after being outed as the source for hotly disputed BBC claims that Number 10 "sexed-up" intelligence on Iraq.

In the aftermath, the PM told journalists travelling abroad with him he had "emphatically not" authorised the leak.

Mr Blair stood by that when repeatedly questioned about his role at a ferocious Prime Minister's Questions yesterday.

However, Mr Howard says that does not tally with evidence from Sir Kevin Tebbit, top civil servant at the Ministry of Defence.

Most watched News videos