2010 press releases

5th Mar: Lib Dem MP to demand full inquest into death of Dr David Kelly

On the day that Prime Minister Gordon Brown is giving evidence to the Chilcot Inquiry, the House of Commons will debate the death of Dr David Kelly, the weapons expert who was at the centre of the events of 2003.

The debate, due to start at 2.30 on Friday, will be introduced by Lib Dem Shadow Cabinet member Norman Baker, MP for Lewes, who in 2007 published a book, The Strange Death of David Kelly, which cast huge doubts on the conclusion reached by Lord Hutton that David Kelly had killed himself.

Norman Baker will argue that:

• Lord Hutton's inquiry was faulty and inadequate, in that it was informal (non-statutory), with no proper cross-examination, no witnesses giving evidence under oath and indeed key witnesses not even called
• Lord Hutton subsequently admitted that he had not looked into the death in detail
• Key evidence has emerged subsequent to Hutton's inquiry, including the fact there were no fingerprints on the knife Dr Kelly allegedly used and that the arm Dr Kelly would have had to have used was damaged and he was unable even to cut steak in a restaurant
• The Attorney General therefore ought to apply for the inquest to be reopened, under the terms of the Coroners Act 1988, on the two grounds that there had been "insufficient inquiry" and that key new evidence had emerged

The Lib Dem MP will also refer to the legal action being taken by a number of medical experts to obtain access to the inquest material which it recently transpired Lord Hutton had in secret recommended be hidden for 70 years. Norman Baker has separately submitted a Freedom of Information request to ask for this material, and tabled a parliamentary question on the matter.

Norman Baker says: "Astonishingly as it may be for such a high profile case, Dr Kelly's death was investigated to a lower standard than any other such death would have been. A proper coroner's inquest would have followed due process and investigated the matter much more rigorously.

"The Chilcot Inquiry is looking robustly into the political aspects of 2003 but it will not be possible to draw a line under the shocking events of that year until there has a proper investigation into the death of Dr David Kelly."

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