LETTER:Scott inquiry reveals Government's grey spot

From Dr N. J. Kerry

Sir: The Government appears entirely to have missed the point of the Scott inquiry. Ever since the collapse of the Matrix Churchill trial, it has been clear that the Government behaved immorally in attempting to prosecute people whose activities it knew of, approved of, and actively encouraged. As far as I am concerned, the question to be answered by the Scott inquiry has always been, "Just exactly how immoral were they?"

As you argue in today's leading article ("Britain's private foreign policy", 7 June), the Government is attempting to discredit Sir Richard Scott. This is part of a concerted campaign to establish that it acted within the law and according to accepted practice. However, this is irrelevant - ministers failed by placing their desire for political power above their personal integrity. An honest admission that they were wrong would be the best way forward - fallibility is an inescapable aspect of the human condition.

Sincerely yours,

N. J. KERRY

Burwell, Cambridgeshire

7 June