Tory scion wants Kelly inquest

London: Former Tory leader Michael Howard Saturday night put himself at the head of a powerful all-party campaign to force a full inquest into the death of Ministry of Defence weapons expert Dr David Kelly.

Howard, Conservative leader when the Hutton Report found Dr Kelly took his own life, said: "In view of the growing number of relevant questions that have arisen and cast doubt on the conclusions reached by Lord Hutton, I believe it would now be entirely appropriate for a full inquest to be held."

"Recent evidence by the first police officer on the scene, together with new statements by doctors, raise serious questions which should be considered. This has been on my mind for quite a while and recent events have crystallised my view."

Howard, now a leading Tory peer, was backed by Labour leadership challenger Diane Abbott, two former Labour Defence Ministers who served in Tony Blair's government and a number of senior Tory, Lib Dem and Labour MPs.

They spoke out amid signs that the government is prepared to act.