Scope of Blunkett inquiry raises objections

Sir Alan Budd's review of claims that David Blunkett misued his powers, which began today, has provoked criticism from parliamentary standards watchdog Sir Alistair Graham.

Despite five further allegations of misuse of power the inquiry will investigate only one, that of Mr Blunkett's alleged 'fast-tracking' of a visa application lodged by his former married lover's Filipino nanny.

Mr Graham said: "The problem is the remit of his inquiry and the fact that Mr Blunkett and the Prime Minister appear to have chosen to confine that to the issue of the visa, whereas there are a number of other really quite serious allegations which ought to be cleared up, for the sake of Mr Blunkett.”

In response to his comments Downing Street said that it was right that the review deal with only the visa application issue since the Home Office had “dealt with” other allegations. Among these are claims that Mr Blunkett disclosed confidential security information to Mrs Quinn, publisher of Spectator magazine and gave her a first class train ticket issued to him.

Sir Alistair told the BBC's Newsnight programme last night: " What the Prime Minister has to remember is that he is the final arbiter, the final person who will decide, having seen the results of the inquiry what action is appropriate." He referred to the 'ad hoc' arrangement of today's inquiry as "unacceptable" and recommended that a second inquiry could be conducted by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Philip Mawer.

Mr Blair has showed unstinting support for his Home Secretary and in his monthly press briefing yesterday said that he was confident Mr Blunkett would be exonerated by the inquiry.

Mr Blunkett and Mrs Quinn began an affair shortly after her marriage to publisher Stephen Quinn and Mr Blunkett claims to be the father of her two-year-old child and her unborn baby.

(mmcg/sp)