Liam Fox quits as defence secretary

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15300751

Defence Secretary Liam Fox has resigned.

He has been under pressure after a week of allegations over his working relationship with friend and self-styled adviser Adam Werritty.

In a letter to David Cameron, Mr Fox said he had "mistakenly allowed" his personal and professional responsibilities to become "blurred".

In response, the prime minister said he was very sorry for Mr Fox's departure but "understood his reasons".

The BBC's political editor Nick Robinson said the prime minister had concluded Mr Fox could no longer stay in his job amid continuing questions about his links to to his former flatmate Adam Werritty.

It emerged that the lobbyist had accompanied the defence secretary on 18 foreign trips, despite having no official role, and had been handing out business cards suggesting he was an adviser to Mr Fox.

Mr Fox was being investigated by the Cabinet Secretary amid claims that he had broken the ministerial code.

In his resignation letter, Mr Fox said he had "mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my government activities to become blurred".

"The consequences of this have become clearer in recent days," he added. "I am very sorry for this.

"I have also repeatedly said that the national interest must always come before personal interest.

"I now have to hold myself to my own standard. I have therefore decided, with great sadness, to resign from my post as secretary of state for defence."

Mr Fox apologised to MPs earlier this week but maintained that there was no wrongdoing in his dealings with Mr Werritty.

About time ..... :cheer2:

As a senior Cabinet Minister, he had made his position untenable by failing to reveal the extent of his past and present political association with an opportunistic businessman "best man and flatmate" ..... :hmph:

David Cameron seems, yet again, to have been caught "on the hop" by events - he really is appearing clueless and inept ..... :idc:

[Shaun]

The article seems vague. Were they shagging or what? :suspect:

[MTVN]

I think it's more that he let his friend in on really confidential meetings and information and stuff although I've never really been sure of the specifics

[arista]

Yes the Walter Mitty Fellow
was a Freeloader.

They can get another MP to Take Over

Have I Got News For You
on tonight was recorded last night
so maybe they will joke saying by the time this is out
he is toast


Life In The City

[arista]

The article seems vague. Were they shagging or what? :suspect:



Could be.




Life In The Fast Lane

[Omah]

The article seems vague. Were they shagging or what? :suspect:

No, they were just good friends. Find out how the friendship developed over the last 13 years by exploring the timeline.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15279405

However :

He married his long-term girlfriend Jesme Baird in 2005, but had to address innuendo about his private life, saying he was very much in love with his then fiancee.

The subject has been raised again in recent days, but dismissed as "wild rumours" by Employment Minister and Fox ally Chris Grayling.

He said: "I've known Liam for many years, I've known Liam and his wife, they've always struck me as being a very happily married couple."

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15234091

[Livia]

About time. He should have gone immediately instead of dragging it out and making himself (and his party) a laughing stock. He used public money to take his friend on over twenty trips abroad, first class all the way and I bloody object to having my taxes spent on a jolly for a politician's mate. I also object to having someone who is unelected being involved in any decision making for the Ministry of Defence

Dr Fox is lucky that this is the only thing that has come to light so far. We'll see if all the rest of the stuff goes away now he's gone...

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15318685

Liam Fox was the Ministry of Defence's seventh secretary of state since 1997.

When Mr Fox arrived he said he had a vision of what the armed forces should look like by 2020.

He was confident he would be in charge for some considerable time.

For the first time in 12 years he was going to carry out a comprehensive strategic defence review.

Mr Fox engaged in early skirmishes with the Treasury as to how deep the cuts should go.

Nevertheless, when he wielded the axe there were sharp intakes of breath. The scrapping of the aircraft carrier HMS Ark Royal, along with the entire fleet of Harrier jets; and new Nimrod spy planes, provided alarming headlines.

Labour, armchair generals and former military top brass accused the government of presiding over a rushed cuts exercise rather than the promised "strategic" review of Britain's defences.

Military chiefs complained of overstretch as the UK took a lead in operations over Libya, to add to the already significant commitment in Afghanistan.

The first sea lord warned that he did not have enough ships.

And there's no proof yet this government will be any better than the last at delivering big defence projects on time and on budget.


Another of Cameron's Big Ideas proves to be a confused and misjudged "bash" at a major problem ..... :idc:

[Crimson Dynamo]

is he gay. i know it could be a dumb question but i seem to have missed a meeting where this was discussed?

[Omah]

is he gay. i know it could be a dumb question but i seem to have missed a meeting where this was discussed?

Nobody knows for sure - it's just rumour and innuendo at the moment, but he didn't get married until he was 45, unusual for a Conservative and a professional .....

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15324686


The Metropolitan Police has been asked to investigate Adam Werrity, the close friend of former defence secretary Liam Fox, for possible fraud.

Labour MP John Mann has asked the police to probe allegations Mr Werritty used business cards falsely claiming he was an adviser to Mr Fox.

At the same time a firm he set up was receiving money from several wealthy supporters, it has been reported.

Mr Mann said he was also considering asking the Electoral Commission - which regulates political parties and their funding - to consider whether Mr Fox should face criminal proceedings over a failure to declare political donations.

The latest comes after venture capitalist Jon Moulton on Friday said Mr Fox approached him after the election seeking funds for a company set up by Mr Werritty.

The Times newspaper reported that Mr Werritty set up the firm, Pargav, as a not-for-profit company to fund his trips abroad.

Mr Moulton said he was told Pargav was involved in "security policy analysis and research".

"Derrtty" Werritty ..... :idc:

[Omah]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15344455

Former Defence Secretary Liam Fox broke the ministerial code in his dealings with his friend Adam Werritty, an official report is expected to say.

Mr Fox resigned on Friday after a week of allegations over his working relationship with Mr Werritty, a lobbyist and former flatmate.

The BBC understands a report by Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell will find Mr Fox broke the rules.

But it will conclude Mr Fox did not gain financially from the arrangement.

..... but Werritty did ..... ;)

[arista]

"Werritty did "


Maybe he does not want Prison
so that means he could take others down with him.