Duncan Smith calls for Hoon’s resignation

Tory Leader Iain Duncan Smith has called on Defence Secretary Geoff Hoon to resign after what he said was “damning criticism” from the Intelligence and Security Committee.

Mr Duncan Smith said the Defence Secretary had been “so discredited” that he should "no longer be left in charge" of Britain's armed services

His comments followed the publishing today of the cross-party Intelligence and Security Committee (ICS) report which indicated that the committee were "disturbed" by the way the minister failed to make clear that senior intelligence staff were concerned about the September dossier drawn up last year to highlight the dangers posed by Saddam Hussein's weapons of mass destruction.

In the Commons today Mr Hoon said that he hoped that the committee accepted that he did not mislead them and said that he regretted any misunderstanding.

The report also slammed the Ministry of Defence for being "unhelpful and potentially misleading" on not releasing information relevant to the committe's enquiries.

Mr Duncan Smith said that he considered Mr Hoon's position as “quite untenable”. He called on him to resign or for the Prime Minister to dismiss him.

Shadow Defence Secretary Bernard Jenkin also stepped up the pressure on the embattled Defence Secretary and called on him to "do the honourable thing, accept responsibility, and resign".

However, Foreign Secretary Jack Straw said today that Mr Hoon would not be resigning.

"He retains every confidence of the prime minister and his cabinet colleagues," said Mr Straw.

Yesterday Mr Hoon received the Prime Minister’s backing as it emerged that the ICS report, apparently criticising Mr Hoon, had been leaked to the press.

(SP)