A SHAKE-UP of parliamentary rules has taken place after Eastleigh MP David Chidgey was found to have taken advice from shamed journalist Andrew Gilligan.

Mr Chidgey was not criticised in yesterday's Hutton Inquiry report for asking weapons expert Dr David Kelly questions sent him by the disgraced BBC defence correspondent during a Commons probe on the war in Iraq.

But the Daily Echo can today reveal the Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, has already ordered a rule change to prevent a repeat of the situation.

In a memo to Parliament's liaison committee of MPs, Mr Martin said there was "nothing inherently improper" in Mr Gilligan suggesting lines of questioning to the Eastleigh MP.

He said: "Committees depend on a range of sources to inform their questioning of witnesses, in addition to the briefing material provided by staff.

"These sources can include pressure groups, trade unions, business organisations and the like, some of which will themselves be giving evidence on their own behalf.

"Particular sensitivity arose in this case, however, in two respects.

"First, Mr Gilligan's own conduct and veracity were under examination by the committee, so his decision to brief MPs selectively raised questions of judgement.

"Second, Mr Gilligan's material was not shared with the rest of the committee, save for a passing reference by one MP to the chairman."

Mr Gilligan, who worked for Radio 4's flagship Today programme, suggested Mr Chidgey ask the government scientist about his conversations with other BBC journalists when Dr Kelly appeared before the foreign affairs select committee in July.

Lord Hutton's 320-page report focused on the circumstances surrounding the death of Dr Kelly.

The scientist apparently committed suicide last July after being named as the source of a BBC story claiming the government "sexed-up" its September 2002 dossier on Iraq's chemical and biological weapons.

The judge was particularly unimpressed at Mr Gilligan's accusation that the government "knowingly" inserted incorrect information that Saddam could fire weapons of mass destruction in 45 minutes in the dossier. These claims were "unfounded".

He criticised the reporter for almost every aspect of his reporting - stating the uncertainties surrounding his evidence meant it was impossible to know what David Kelly actually said to the BBC journalist.

He also condemned "defective" BBC editorial processes over the broadcasts.

Lord Hutton said Dr Kelly killed himself because of a severe loss of self-esteem as he felt he had lost people's trust.

He said BBC governors should have properly investigated Downing Street's complaints as they defended the corporation's independence.

He admitted Prime Minister Tony Blair's wish for a persuasive dossier might have "subconsciously influenced" Joint Intelligence Committee chairman John Scarlett to word the dossier strongly.

Lord Hutton said there was no "dishonourable, underhand or duplicitous strategy" by Mr Blair to leak Dr Kelly's name covertly to help its battle with the BBC.

But he said the Ministry of Defence was at fault for failing to tell Dr Kelly his identity as the suspected BBC source would be confirmed to journalists.

In the Commons, Mr Blair said the report showed "the allegation that I or anybody else lied to the House or deliberately misled the country by falsifying intelligence of weapons of mass destruction is itself the real lie".

Chairman quits BBC

BBC chairman Gavyn Davies, who was educated in Southampton and is a lifelong Saints fan, has resigned in the wake of Lord Hutton's criticisms of the corporation's reports.

Mr Davies, who is one of the richest people in Britain with an estimated personal fortune of at least £165m, is a familiar figure at St Marfy's stadium.

He made his wealth as chief economist of American investment bank Goldman Sachs International, and he was once tipped to be the Governor of the Bank England, a position now held by Mervyn King, who grew up at Hedge End, near Southampton.

Mr Davies was raised in Southampton and taught at the city's Taunton's College. His resignation came after Lord Hutton said the claim in BBC reports that the government "sexed up" its dossier on Iraq's weapons was "unfounded".

It is uncertain what Mr Davies, a personal friend of Prime Minister Tony Blair and famously described as Wall Street's greatest money-making machine, will do now.

He was headline news in the Daily Echo in the mid-1990s when he was linked to a consortium that made a failed bid to buy the Saints.

He said at the time: "The only thing that would tempt me to leave the bank would be the chance to manage Southampton Football Club."

Mr Davies's mother stills lives in the city.