[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Here it is;

BBC chairman to quit over Hutton

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/3434661.stm

[pau1f0rd]

Noone's resigned yet... but I haven't been this cheerful since Saddam's statue came down!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Detail on the investigation in here:

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BBC chairman to quit over Hutton

Davies to quit BBC post

BBC chairman Gavyn Davies is to resign in the wake of Lord Hutton's criticisms of the corporation's reports.

BBC political editor Andrew Marr said Mr Davies would tell the corporation's governors of his decision when they met at 1700 GMT.

It comes after Lord Hutton said the claim in BBC reports that the government "sexed up" its dossier on Iraq's weapons was "unfounded".

And he criticised "defective" BBC editorial processes over defence correspondent Andrew Gilligan's broadcasts of the claims on the Today programme.

THE HUTTON REPORT Full Report (PDF file 2MB) Summary of conclusions Profile: Gavyn Davies

Lord Hutton also said he was satisfied Dr Kelly had killed himself after being named as the suspected source of the BBC's controversial weapons dossier story.

Prime Minister Tony Blair said the report showed "the allegation that I or anybody else lied to the House or deliberately misled the country by falsifying intelligence of weapons of mass destruction is itself the real lie".

"I simply ask that those that have made it and repeated it over all these months now withdraw it fully, openly and clearly," he said.

In other key developments:

• BBC director general Greg Dyke said the corporation apologised for things which were wrong in Mr Gilligan's reports.

• But Mr Dyke argued Dr Kelly had been a credible source and provided they were reported accurately it was right the public should hear his views.

• Former Downing Street media chief Alastair Campbell said: "If the government had faced the level of criticisms which today Lord Hutton's report has directed at the BBC, there would have been resignations by now, several resignations at several levels."

• Lord Hutton said the BBC governors should have properly investigated Downing Street's complaints as they defended the corporation's independence.

• Lord Hutton said Tony Blair's wish for the dossier to make a persuasive case might have "subconsciously influenced" Joint Intelligence Committee chairman John Scarlett to use stronger words than usual but Mr Scarlett had acted to ensure the dossier was consistent with reliable intelligence

• There was no "dishonourable, underhand or duplicitous strategy" by the government to leak Dr Kelly's name covertly to help its battle with the BBC.

• The Ministry of Defence was "at fault" for failing to tell Dr Kelly that his identity as the suspected source would be confirmed to journalists who suggested it, said the report

• Lord Hutton "deplored" the leak of some his findings in the Sun newspaper and is looking at an investigation and possible legal action.

BBC political editor Andrew Marr's reaction to the report was: "In the end what it comes down to is a judgement by Lord Hutton - who he believes, whose motives he trusts most and in that, again and again, he comes down on the side of politicians and officials."

INQUIRY BACKGROUND September 2002: Government produces dossier about alleged Iraqi weapons of mass destruction, including claim they could be deployed within 45 minutes May 2003: BBC Today programme's Andrew Gilligan broadcasts report of claims Downing Street "sexed up" dossier, with 45 mins claim included against intelligence agencies' wishes 10 July 2003:Dr David Kelly named as suspected source of report as government continues to deny the story 17 July 2003: Dr Kelly found dead August 2003: Lord Hutton begins six weeks of hearings about the circumstances around Dr Kelly's death Key points at-a-glance

Dr Kelly's family urged the government to learn from their tragedy. "No other person should have to suffer the pressure he experienced," said their solicitor, Peter Jacobsen.

Tackling the prime minister amid rowdy scenes in the House of Commons, Conservative leader Michael Howard said nobody in government could look back at the affair with pride.

He said: "Isn't there the starkest contrast between Dr Kelly, who had done so much for our country, and the cabal of ministers and advisers, including the prime minister himself, who were so obsessed by the war with the BBC that they gave scant attention to his welfare?"

Mr Howard suggested Mr Blair's denial to journalists that he had authorised the naming of Dr Kelly was at odds with Lord Hutton's conclusions.

HAVE YOUR SAY Let's just hope it shakes up the BBC to be more the type of broadcaster they used to be Mike, UK Send us your comments

But Mr Blair said Lord Hutton had found that Downing Street had only helped draw up the press release saying an official had met Mr Gilligan.

It had not been involved in what MoD press officers told journalists.

Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat Charles Kennedy said an independent inquiry was still needed into the Iraq war.

"We are still no closer to determining whether this country went to war on a false prospectus," he said.

The judge's 328-report is based on evidence from 74 witnesses over the six weeks of the Hutton inquiry last summer.