Ealing North
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Steve Pound MP Ealing North |
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A Fair InquiryFeburary 2004 All I ever ask for is fair play. I don’t want any favours, but a level playing field would be good once in a while. When Dr.David Kelly died a lonely death last year the clamour for a full and independent judicial enquiry was deafening. The government agreed within days and one of the most independent judges in the United Kingdom was appointed. I freely admit that I’ve had my problems with Brian Hutton in the past. He was one of the “Diplock!” judges who sat alone in the North of Ireland and judged without a jury. He was clearly a deeply conservative Unionist who, despite this background, was never faulted on the issue of impartiality. Like many people I disagreed profoundly with many of his judgements but found considerable difficulty in faulting his logic or jurisprudence. He set out to enquire in the circumstances leading up to Dr.Kelly’s death in rigorous style. He could call anyone he wanted from anywhere in the UK and spend as long as he wanted to do so. Last week his report was published and he had some harsh words for a tiny section of the BBC, some criticism of the Ministry of Defence but concluded that the Prime Minister had not lied nor been complicit in the events that drove Dr. Kelly to his death. Now if the finding had been the other way round the government – and I – would have had to accept it. We could not have attacked Lord Hutton or his terms of reference – we would have had to live with the verdict. Lord Hutton did not give those who loathe the Prime Minister and most, if not all, politicians the red meat they sought. So what was the reaction? Ridiculous unthinking tabloid nonsense about a white-wash! No fair play there, certainly no level playing field. I happen to regret that consequences for the BBC. One mistake at 6.07am shouldn’t lead to the blood-bath we saw last week, even if it would have had the same effect in government if they, the BBC, had been proved to be correct. Greg Dyke and Tony Blair both said that the time had come to draw a line under the matter and move on. Greg made a bravura statement that he had “loads of money and lots to do” and I wish him well in whatever he chooses to use his money and time for. He is hugely talented and I know that he will be relishing the showers of praise that are falling on his head from the very same journalists who were calling for his dismissal a few months ago and vilifying him since he was appointed. What does it say about politics, and politicians, that we are subject to as much condemnation as if Lord Hutton had found against the government? Clearly we have an enormous task in hand and I do so very much hope that this will be a turning point. We can use a little more humility, and perhaps even admit that we quite often get things wrong. The tabloid press can stop trying to whip the nation up into a frenzied fury that can only be destructive. Fair play – on both sides – is the best way forward and lets all hope that this starts now. |
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| Disclaimer | Copyright | Designed by Bassam Mahfouz. Promoted by Julian Bell, The Labour Party, Ruskin Hall, 16 Church Road, W3 8PP on behalf of Steve Pound MP |
