Howard demands probe into Hutton leak

Tory leader Michael Howard has called for the Metropolitan Police commissioner to conduct a full inquiry into the leaking of the Hutton report, which appeared in today's Sun newspaper.

As he arrived at the Cabinet Office in Whitehall to examine the long-awaited report into the death of government scientist Dr Kelly, Mr Howard branded the breach "disgraceful".

According to the leaked version of Lord Hutton's report into the tragedy over the suspected suicide of Government weapons expert Dr David Kelly, Prime Minister Tony Blair was set to escape major criticism

The Sun says the retired law lord has largely cleared Mr Blair, his communications chief Alastair Campbell and Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon of wrongdoing.

"I'm looking forward to reading the report. I think that the leak was quite disgraceful," said Mr Howard.

"I shall be calling on the Prime Minister to ask the Metropolitan Police Commissioner to conduct a full inquiry into the circumstances."

Preview before publication

Mr Howard and his Liberal Democrat counterpart Charles Kennedy are being given a preview of the report before its publication later today.

Mr Kennedy arrived a few minutes later at the Cabinet Office accompanied by Baroness Shirley Williams, Liberal Democrat leader of the Lords, and the party foreign affairs spokesman Sir Menzies Campbell.

"I have no comment to make about the leak," he said.

Mr Kennedy added: "Let's see what Lord Hutton has to say."

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