13 October 2011

Fox Faces Further Fire

The under-fire Conservative Minister, Liam Fox was facing further politically damaging allegations on Thursday, as it was being reported that he took five MPs to Washington during his leadership bid.

According to the Guardian, a charity linked with Dr Fox, the Defence Secretary, paid for a total of five MPs to join him in Washington around October 18, 2005 – coinciding with the first round of voting in the leadership election, which Fox eventually lost to David Cameron.

The minister has faced continued pressure over his Atlantic Bridge charity, who paid for the flights. Its trustees dissolved the organisation last month after the Charity Commission criticised the registered charity's rightwing agenda.

The Tory MPs involved were member for the Forest of Dean, Mark Harper; Weston-super-Mare MP, John Penrose; Brooks Newmark, MP for Braintree; Adam Holloway of Gravesham; and Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow. All had been freshly elected to the house only months earlier.

Dr Fox was forced to explain his working and personal relationship with friend Jim Werritty, who was reported to have gained privileged access, attended meetings and carried out some official business with Fox despite holding no official position.

Mr Werritty was also believed to have attended the 2005 Washington trip.

Questions have been raise about how Mr Werritty was funded during his business and about the propriety of his unofficial status.

Jim Murphy, Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary, said that political storm clouds are now gathering above Liam Fox's head.

"These allegations appear to blow a hole Liam Fox's story. He appears to have received funding which he hasn't declared and funded Mr Werritty's actions as his unofficial adviser. Mr Werritty has seemingly profited from his association with Mr Fox.

"This appears a clear breach of the Ministerial Code and Parliament's rules.

Mr Murphy said that unless the Defence Secretary can disprove the claims immediately it was hard to see how long he could continue.

(DW/BMcC)