CHARLES CLARKE, the home secretary, has had to apologise to the clergyman father of a survivor of the July 7 suicide bombings after an altercation in Norwich cathedral.

Clarke has written to the father of Rachel North, an advertising executive injured in the King’s Cross attack, to express his “regret” over the incident which occurred nine days ago, after the home secretary angrily rejected a demand from the clergyman for a public inquiry into the bombings.

Rachel’s father Phillip, a parish priest and chapter canon of the cathedral, said yesterday that he had simply approached Clarke with a question about why the government was refusing to have a public inquiry. Clarke had just addressed the annual Bishop’s Day meeting of clergymen when he made the outburst. The home secretary’s constituency is in the city.

Clarke, who is known in Whitehall and Westminster for his abrasive manner, replied to North’s question: “You’re insulting me. Go away. I don’t need to be insulted by you.”

The canon said yesterday he had been “deeply upset” by Clarke’s response: “I was shocked that he was so ready to dismiss my question. He may have had his reasons but I would have thought his training would help him to cope with this sort of thing. He should not have treated me in that way.”

Clarke has since written to the canon, saying: “My response obviously caused offence, which I regret.”

Critics say ministers are reluctant to have a public inquiry because of fears that evidence will emerge that the police and MI5 missed vital intelligence that could have prevented the attacks which killed 56 people, including the four bombers.

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