Guardian ^ | 07/17/03 | Chris Borg and agencies
MPs accuse Gilligan of changing story , by Chris Borg and agencies, Thursday July 17, 2003
The BBC journalist who claimed that Alastair Campbell had "sexed up" intelligence on Iraq's alleged weapons of mass destruction was tonight accused of changing his evidence by MPs. Andrew Gilligan, the defence correspondent on Radio 4's Today programme, was described as an "unsatisfactory witness" by the Commons foreign affairs select committee following his second appearance before it today.
He had been recalled to give further evidence after a senior Ministry of Defence official, Dr David Kelly, denied suggestions that he was the possible source of Gilligan's story.
The journalist had accused Mr Campbell of inserting a claim into the dossier, which was published last September, that the former Iraqi president, Saddam Hussein, could deploy weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes. Mr Campbell has insisted that the claim was not included on his instructions. He has been backed by security chiefs, who say that it was passed by the joint intelligence committee.
Speaking after Mr Gilligan's almost two-hour appearance before the committee, its chairman, Donald Anderson MP, said: "Mr Gilligan clearly changed his mind in the course of the evidence, in particular in relation to serious allegations concerning Mr Campbell." The Labour MP added that a transcript of today's session, which took place behind closed doors, would be made public. "There is a grave danger of unfairness to Mr Campbell. On the question of unfairness and the unsatisfactory nature of the evidence, the press and public can make up their own minds," he said. He added that the transcript could be published within seven days, saying that there had been a "veering" in the course of the evidence "in relation to Mr Campbell and the 45 minutes".
Mr Gilligan's story, which quoted a single intelligence source in claiming that Mr Campbell had "sexed up" the dossier, was broadcast on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.
The BBC journalist insisted that he had not changed his story, and said that Mr Anderson had "deliberately misinterpreted" his evidence. "This was an ambush by a hanging jury with only one opposition member present for the relevant section of the meeting," he said.
"Donald Anderson has deliberately misinterpreted my evidence, and I have asked for the transcript to be published to make this clear.
"The Labour members of the committee were determined to find fault with my story, but did not do so. I defended my journalism with vigour, pointing out, among other things, that many of my source's allegations have been corroborated by other evidence."
A statement issued by the BBC tonight defended Mr Gilligan, and accused the committee of launching "personal attacks" on him. "Andrew Gilligan has not changed his story. The committee launched a series of personal attacks on Mr Gilligan in an atmosphere which was largely hostile," the statement read. "We deeply resent the way the committee was used to attack Mr Gilligan's integrity."
BBC reporter who claimed "sexed" up Intelligence accused of changing his story.