Diary sheds light on Iraq mole row
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LONDON, England (CNN) -- Diary entries by Tony Blair's former communications chief, Alastair Campbell, have given a fresh insight into the UK government's fierce dispute with the BBC.
They showed that Campbell and Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon were eager for the name of government scientist David Kelly to be made public after he emerged as the source of a BBC story critical of government policy on Iraq.
Campbell used an expletive in his diary, saying that if Kelly was exposed as the source, it would "**** Gilligan," referring to Andrew Gilligan, a BBC defense correspondent.
The diary, shown to the Hutton Inquiry which is investigating the apparent suicide of Kelly, shows Campbell wanted a "clear win" not a "messy draw" in the row with the BBC.
In earlier evidence Monday, Hoon denied a claim by the lawyer for the Kelly family that he was part of a government strategy to make Kelly's name public without appearing to do so.
Kelly was found dead in July, days after appearing before a televised government inquiry into Iraq policy.
This is the last week of testimony before the Hutton Inquiry at London's Royal Courts of Justice.
Lord Hutton, who is chairing the investigation, will give his report later. The consequences could have severe consequences for the BBC and the government, which opinion polls suggest is losing public support over Iraq.
Campbell's diary entries were the most dramatic evidence given to the inquiry.
He wrote: "GH (Hoon) said his initial instinct was to throw the book at (Kelly), but in fact there was a case for trying to get some kind of plea bargain."
It also showed that Blair favored a cautious approach on dealing with Kelly, preferring "natural justice."
Campbell, who resigned last month for personal reasons, wrote: "GH and I both wanted to get the source up but TB (Blair) was nervous about it." (Campbell profile)
Hoon told the inquiry his department chose to confirm Kelly's identity to journalists rather than be accused of a cover-up.
Hoon said he approved a Ministry of Defence statement that an employee acknowledged meeting Gilligan.
The statement sparked a media frenzy that led to the ministry confirming Kelly as a possible source for the BBC report.
In a series of tense exchanges, Kelly family counsel Jeremy Gompertz put it to Hoon that there had been a conspiracy to leak Kelly's name.
"The government as a whole had decided on a strategy which would leak Dr. Kelly's name into the public arena. Is that a strategy that you recognize or not?" Gompertz asked.
Hoon replied: "No, it is not. I don't believe there is the slightest shred of evidence for that assertion."
