- Andrew MacKinlay's finest hour. Archived Message
Posted by Morrissey
on April 13, 2023, 8:53 am
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Inquisition by MPs that left scientist tormented Kevin Maguire, The Grauniad Sat 19 Jul 2003 01.43 BST Leaning forward and jutting his jaw in the direction of the lone figure seated in the gap of the horseshoe-shaped table, Labour MP Andrew Mackinlay asked aggressively: "Have you ever felt like the fall guy? You have been set up, have you not?" Dr David Kelly's first answer was barely audible as he shook his head, murmuring: "That's a question I cannot answer." "But do you feel that?" demanded the pugnacious MP for Thurrock. "No, I accept the process that's going on," replied the scientist. Donald Anderson, chairman of the Commons foreign affairs committee, failed to pick up the answer so asked him to speak up. Raising his chin as well as his voice, Dr Kelly told his interrogators: "I accept the process that is happening." Silver-bearded, slightly balding and bespectacled, parliamentary sketch writers went on to compare him to mass murderer Dr Harold Shipman. Viewed after the discovery of his body yesterday, TV footage makes the MPs who prodded and probed him for more than an hour look like bullies. Dr Kelly admitted meeting BBC reporter Andrew Gilligan in London's Charing Cross hotel but insisted that, on the basis of what Mr Gilligan claimed to have been told, he could not be the source. Mr Mackinlay, who was Tuesday's interrogator-in-chief, demanded to know who else in the media Dr Kelly had met. "Can you tell me those journalists who you do recall meeting on this timescale. What are their names?" asked Mr Mackinlay. Dr Kelly: "I have met very few journalists." Mr Mackinlay: "Well yes. I hear you. Who are the ones in your mind's eye at the moment. What's their names?" Dr Kelly: "That will be provided by the Ministry of Defence." Mr Mackinlay: "No, no. I am asking you now. This is the high court of parliament and I want you to tell the committee who you met." Dr Kelly: "On this occasion I think it should be proper if the Ministry of Defence gave them to you." Old Westminster hands yesterday said the questioning was not unduly forceful, pointing out that it appeared much worse in retrospect following his death. But the 59-year-old weapons expert had clearly not enjoyed being thrust into the spotlight. The week before last, Richard Bowker, the head of the strategic rail authority, endured a torrid time before the transport committee and last week the culture committee showed no mercy to Greg Dyke and BBC bigwigs. Even those MPs seeking to be helpful, however, left Dr Kelly discomforted. Sir John Stanley, a former Tory defence minister, asked: "Why do you go along with this, Dr Kelly? You were being exploited, weren't you?" Dr Kelly: "I wouldn't say I was being exploited but..." Sir John: "You were being used to rubbish Mr Gilligan and his source, quite clearly." Dr Kelly: "I just found myself to be in this position out of my own honesty in acknowledging the fact that I had interacted with him." Warming to his theme, Sir John was to add: "You were thrown to the wolves, not only to the media but also to this committee." Dr Kelly responded: "I think that's a line of questioning you will have to pursue with the Ministry of Defence." The scientist was clearly perplexed when Bill Olner, Labour MP for Nuneaton, asked whether he had ever mentioned what the backbencher termed "the C word". Mystified, the scientist replied: "C word?" "Yes, Alastair Campbell," replied Mr Olner. He shook his head, saying it was Mr Gilligan who had mentioned the name of the Downing Street director of communications. Dr Kelly had given evidence to MPs in the past, appearing as an expert witness last September alongside the foreign secretary Jack Straw. Then he was a supporting act, backing up one of his political bosses. Mr Anderson and the MoD said he had turned down an offer to have a "friend" sit next to him last Tuesday, preferring to face his inquisitors alone. As temperatures soared on the hottest day of the year, the committee clerk switched off the noisy fans so the scientist could be heard. Mr Mackinlay doggedly attempted to uncover the identity of the government mole: "Do you know of any other inquiries which have gone on in the department to seek the source, to clarify in addition to you or instead of you or apart from you?" he demanded. Dr Kelly: "No." Mr Mackinlay: "None whatsoever?" Dr Kelly: "No, no." Mr Mackinlay: "No? I reckon you are chaff, thrown up to divert our probing. Have you ever felt like the fall guy? You have been set up, have you not?" Dr Kelly's interrogators dismissed complaints yesterday that he was given a rough ride. Mr Anderson insisted: "This is a human tragedy. It is awful, but this is not relevant any more to the work of our committee." Dr Kelly before the foreign affairs committee, July 15: Andrew Mackinlay: Okay. Dr Kelly, I asked you for the names of other journalists you have had contact with in the timescale we were talking about _this afternoon can you tell me those journalists who you do recall having met? Dr Kelly: That will be provided to you by the Ministry of Defence. Andrew Mackinlay: No, I am asking you now. This is the high court of parliament and I want you to tell the committee who you met. Andrew Mackinlay: I reckon you are chaff; you have been thrown up to divert our probing. Have you ever felt like a fall guy? You have been set up, have you not? Dr Kelly: That is not a question I can answer. Andrew Mackinlay: But you feel that? Dr Kelly: No, not at all. I accept the process that is going on. |
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