Dr David Kelly

The post mortem records have been released. They tell us nothing we did not know already. Neither do they answer questions posed by experts challenging the assumptions made.

The issue is very simple. Hutton is a discredited Report, since few who read its conclusions overall, who had also followed the evidence day by day, concurred with what amounted to letting what is now recognised as an untruthful and spinning government off the hook. But how Doctor Kelly died was only part of the conclusions and, at the time, was taken more or less for granted anyway. It is since then that worries have arisen and these are not just from conspiracy geeks.

It is very unsatisfactory to investigate a death of this nature by a special enquiry charged with reporting to the Government. This is especially the case when any alternative conclusion would have cost Tony Blair his job as Prime Minister. This is why a proper Coroner’s Inquest must now be held. It will be fully independent and will examine not only those involved in the investigation but other experts with different views. It may, or may not, come to the same conclusion. What it will do is settle the matter.

Dr. Kelly is owed this. He was, after all, right. We must not forget that. All the world knows that now. There is nothing left to cover up, except exactly what did happen that grim day in the woods.