Blair faces TV grilling on Kelly
British Prime Minister Tony Blair today faced a TV grilling amid mounting pressure over the death of Iraq mole Dr David Kelly.
Mr Blair is under concerted attack from Tories in the run-up to publication of Lord Hutton’s report on the circumstances of the death.
Tory leader Michael Howard will attempt to turn the screw on the PM in his own TV appearance.
The interviews come as a poll showed fewer than one in four British people believe Mr Blair’s account of events.
Mr Howard upped the ante last night by challenging him to face MPs and answer for the findings of the Hutton inquiry.
Mr Blair’s official spokesman refused to say whether the Prime Minister would lead the debate on the report by Lord Hutton, who officially retires as a law lord today.
Mr Howard wrote to Mr Blair saying it is “inconceivable” he would not lead the Commons confrontation.
Mr Blair was expected to be pressed on the point in his interview with BBC1’s Breakfast with Frost.
Mr Howard was expected to use his interview to again question Mr Blair’s claim that he did not sanction the leaking of Dr Kelly’s name.
The weapons expert was found dead after being outed as the source for BBC claims that Downing Street “sexed-up” intelligence on Iraq.
The UK Prime Minister told journalists travelling with him abroad he had “emphatically not” authorised a leak.
Mr Blair stood by that statement when questioned by the Tory leader in the Commons last week.
However, the transcript of the interview was not included in government evidence to the inquiry, it emerged last night.
Conservatives seized on the omission, saying it was “obvious” it should have been sent to the law lord and Mr Howard was expected to make more of it on Sky’s Sunday with Adam Boulton.
Voters already distrust Mr Blair’s account, according to the YouGov survey published in The Mail on Sunday.
Fewer than a quarter, 23%, said Mr Blair was telling the truth while another 27% were undecided.
The Government carries the brunt of the blame for Dr Kelly’s death, the study showed.
Just 7% thought the BBC was at fault for putting him under pressure by not confirming he was the source.
In comparison almost half, 46%, said the Government was to blame for making his name public.
MPs who subjected Dr Kelly to a public grilling were blamed by more than a quarter, 27%.
:: YouGov interviewed 2,093 people online between January 8 to 10.
