FOR A Government which placed so much emphasis on presentation and spin, it has proved to be disastrously bad at it.

Yesterday's apology by Downing Street spokesman Tom Kelly is the latest in a steady stream of spectacular own goals.

His suggestion that Dr David Kelly may have been a "Walter Mitty" character was unbelievably insensitive, coming so close to the funeral of the highly-respected weapons expert today.

Just as another spin doctor, Jo Moore, earned infamy by suggesting that September 11 was a good day to bury bad news, Tom Kelly will not live down such a crass error of judgement and should resign.

Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, minding the shop while Tony Blair is away, was quick to distance the Government from Mr Kelly's remark.

He is right to do so. But it is too late for the Government to distance itself from the culture of spin and secret briefings it so blindly created.

The Government is not to blame for the death of Dr David Kelly, but it is guilty of badly mismanaging the aftermath of the tragedy.

And teams which score too many own goals get relegated.

Army deaths: who's to blame?

SEVEN soldiers have been found hanged at Catterick Garrison since 1997. Another six have died from gunshot wounds in the past eight years.

Last night, the family of the latest tragic victim, 21-year-old Derek McGregor, told The Northern Echo that he had lived in fear of brutality and his pleas for help had been brushed aside.

The life of a soldier entails being placed under intense pressure. Recruits have to accept that when they sign up for a career in the Army.

But the death toll at Catterick is unacceptably high and must be thoroughly investigated by an independent public inquiry.

Suspicion will hang over Europe's largest Army base until that inquiry takes place, so let there be no further delay.