Hutton Inquiry hears Kelly tape

2:02pm Wednesday 13th August 2003

A BBC journalist who spoke to Dr David Kelly in his last months has told the inquiry into his death that he 'specifically denied' Alistair Campbell had tried to 'sex-up' a Government dossier on Iraqi weapons of mass destruction.

Susan Watts again referred to Dr Kelly's comments about the so-called "45-minute claim" - that Iraq could launch, WMD within that time - as 'gossipy remarks', and even labelled them 'gratuitous'.

And she was at pains to point out what she called 'significant differences' between her reports, made on the BBC's Newsnight programme, and those of Andrew Gilligan for the Today programme.

Both at the beginning and the end of her evidence today, Ms Watts said she 'did not mention Alastair Campbell' in her reports, nor said any member of Government had inserted the 45-minute claim.

The Newsnight correspondent said there was concern among some members of the intelligence community about the way in which the dossier presented information - particularly its language - but no accusations of inserting information known to have been false.

Tape transcripts, released by the inquiry today, appear to back up Ms Watts hesitancy to name Campbell specifically, while confirming the presence of doubts over the dossier.

At one point Doctor Kelly is recorded as saying: "I knew there was concern about the [45-minute] statement ...it just got out of all proportion ...

"They were desperate for information ...That was one that popped up and it was seized on ...which is why there is an argument between the intelligence services and number ten."

Dr Kelly said there could be 'other explanations' for the 45-minute claim, such as the time to erect a scud launcher, or fill a 40-barrel rocket launcher.

During the 17-minute-long phone conversation, Dr Kelly did mention Alastair Campbell, and the Number 10 press office.

But when asked by Watts, "On the 45-minute issue... would it be accurate to say that it was Alastair Campbell himself who...?" Dr Kelly appears to backtrack: "No, I can't. All I can say is the Number 10 press office. I've never met Alastair Campbell ...but I think Campbell is synonymous with the press office because he's responsible for it."

Questioned on what she thought Dr Kelly meant by this, Ms Watts - who was obviously on friendly terms with Dr Kelly - said she felt he was referring to the press office as a 'tribe'.

She said: "To my mind he specifically denied Alastair Campbell was involved."

After Alastair Campbell had been questioned by the foreign affairs select committee, Ms Watts did try to contact Dr Kelly once more, she told the inquiry today, though she was worried in case he was 'observed in some way by the MoD or the Foreign Office'.

He seemed to be unaware, according to Ms Watts, that the interview process was taking place, and said he was too busy to watch the committee.

Noting that he sounded non-committal on the phone, Ms Watts said when asked if he could watch the broadcast and comment on it for Newsnight, Dr Kelly said, "I am not involved."

She interpreted this to mean colleagues were listening either directly in the office or indirectly.

At the end of the conversation she asked if she could ring him again.

He replied: "You can ring me any time, Susan."

Ms Watts said this was the last time she spoke to Dr Kelly before his body was found in Oxfordshire, three miles from his home.