Gilligan gets union backing

Strike action in defence of Andrew Gilligan was today threatened by the National Union of Journalists.

Journalist Mr Gilligan will have the union's "complete support" if the BBC takes disciplinary action following Lord Hutton's report, said NUJ general secretary Jeremy Dear.

"Our reaction would be to immediately back him, to represent him at any subsequent hearings, and to argue with our members that they should take whatever action is necessary to protect his position.

"And this could include industrial action.

"Any investigative journalist performing a public service has to feel that they are being supported.

"The worst thing that could come out of the Hutton report would be for journalists to become timid in the face of government attempts to manipulate the news agenda."

Mr Dear added: "Whatever failings there were in just one of Andrew's reports - and he did no fewer than 19 on that first day alone - there has never been any
doubt that his story was in the public interest."