DEAR EDITOR -- The current inquiry into the death of Dr David Kelly, is proving to be with every day that passes an ever more dispiriting and unedifying spectacle. What a poor, self-serving lot, our governing classes have become.

Sad as it undoubtedly is, Dr Kelly chose to take his life. No such choice for the six hapless military policemen sent out on a mission in Iraq virtually unarmed without back-up, protection or incredibly a viable method of communication.

No inquiry on their behalf, just a vague promise to review security some few weeks later following the death of three more military policemen travelling in an unprotected hire car.

The MoD does not enjoy a high reputation in any sense but as an employer it has to be amongst the worst in the country, complacent and safe in the knowledge that their employees are denied the benefit of any meaningful representation and seemingly without a single champion in Parliament fighting their corner.

As the employer, however, the MoD cannot be allowed to escape its fundamental duty of care, in which it clearly failed so woefully. For the sake of servicemen and women and their families past, present and future, they must be called to account.

The anguish of the bereaved, aware that their loss was so clearly avoidable, must be truly dreadful. The apparent disinterest of the Government and MoD as to the circumstances is just adding to their pain.

Jeremy Atkins

Segbourne Road

Ruber