Snowmail: Nimrod fuel fears revealed

Last Modified: 27 Jul 2008
By: Carl Dinnen

Is the Nimrod safe? A leaked document has revealed a much greater number of fuel leaks from the ageing spy plane than was previously thought.

A coroner has already said the whole fleet should be grounded having found that a fuel leak was the most likely cause of the crash that killed 14 personnel in Afghanistan two years ago.

The men's families also want them grounded. The MoD insists the aircraft are safe but these new leak numbers give cause for concern. Sue Turton is on the case. I wonder did Gordon Brown read the papers this morning. He would have been well advised to leave them alone in the cause of a more relaxing holiday. If they are to be believed some Labour backbenchers are discussing whether or not Mr Brown should be taking a rather longer holiday.

An anonymous MP says a friend of Jack Straw's is canvassing opinion on his part although Mr Straw himself says a leadership contest would be a big mistake. The problem for Mr Brown is that although the echoes of Glasgow East may have died away on the wind by the time he returns from the seaside the economic storm clouds will still be gathering. That plus what John and Anne Darwin's sons have to say about them and Max Mosley versus the News of the World Round Two. Join me at 6.45. Carl