The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Fox's fate remains unclear

His confident performance couldn't disguise how embarrassing the revelations are.

By George Eaton Published 10 October 2011 17:48

Liam Fox cut a confident figure during his statement to the Commons. He quipped that he was pleased to see "so many new members interested in defence" and, in a calculated show of support, George Osborne, Michael Gove and Eric Pickles all joined him on the frontbench.

But none of this could disguise how embarrassing the facts are for the Defence Secretary. He was forced to admit that he met his self-styled "special adviser" Adam Werrity 40 times in 16 months (18 times on trips overseas and 22 times at the Ministry of Defence), many more than previously thought. For two months, the MoD insisted that Werrity was not taken on any official trips. Fox said that he merely met Werrity "in a social capacity" on "the margins" but he is open to the charge of misleading MPs.

While Fox was on his feet, the MoD sent out the findings of its interim report, which notes "a potential grey area, where personal or party political meetings or events take place during times when the Secretary of State is not accompanied by a Private Secretary; such events can potentially stray into government business." It recommends that in the future the Private Office should "clarify the attendance of people not part of the Ministerial party (other than the spouse/partner of the Minister) at informal or social gatherings."

In a strong and forensic response, Jim Murphy accused Fox of "driving a coach and horses" through the ministerial code. Fox's statement that he allowed "distinctions to be blurred" was a tacit admission that he had breached paragraph 7.1 of the code, which requires ministers to ensure that no conflict arises or is perceived to arise "between their public duties and their private interests". The only issue, Murphy said, was "on how many grounds and on how many occasions" the code was breached.

One key issue is whether Werrity benefited financially from his relationship with Fox. In response to questions on this subject, Fox said that Werritty was "not dependent on any transactional behaviour" at his MoD meetings "to maintain his income".

The Defence Secretary's future now depends entirely on how Cameron responds when he receives the MoD's full review on 21 October.

Tags: Liam Fox

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25 comments

Mon, 2011-10-10 22:56 — Lady J (not verified)

Pickering,
Is it not a well known fact that Mandelson and his fellow Bliarites are closet Tories.

Mon, 2011-10-10 23:10 — Neil (not verified)

Fox said that Werritty was "not dependent on any transactional behaviour" at his MoD meetings "to maintain his income"

Can the NS get DAG to explain his take on this spurious legalise wording?

BTW did anything result from the inquiry into the MOD cuts leak a while ago?

Tue, 2011-10-11 00:44 — kenny jenkins (not verified)

Cameron has said he has complete confidence in him. We all know what that means, don't we, children?
If he had a grain of sense he'd have resigned already to stop any more dirt coming out.

Tue, 2011-10-11 00:57 — Des Demona (not verified)

As we speak, the reason Fox hasn't yet resigned is partly our fault. They (Members of Parliament) are an 'old boys club' who get away with whatever they can while the going is good.
Liam's considerably younger male 'friend' moved from a 'chance' encounter at Edinburugh University to running Liam's pet charity - ( ummm in addition to sleazy Liam having to pay back 20k in dodgy expenses claims, Werrity's rent free abode in tax payer's paid abode still to be explained) said charity being struck off for not being a charity , so what was it?- to moving from director of a health company when Liam was health shadow minister to moving to an arms dealer when Liam was 'Defence ' minister?
It stinks. He stinks. We stink for not stringing these feckers up (metaphorically)

Tue, 2011-10-11 00:57 — nomad (not verified)

The love that dare not speak it's name?

Tue, 2011-10-11 01:24 — Des Demona (not verified)

@ nomad
That might stink a bit, but not the point I was aiming at!

Tue, 2011-10-11 01:31 — Dickie1

No, let him stay. The more damage he does the better.

Tue, 2011-10-11 02:27 — David Lindsay

This Government is Blairite. The Opposition isn't. So the universally Blairite media will let this Government get away with absolutely anything at all. Even this.

Tue, 2011-10-11 13:09 — Awake!

either way he has to go- even if he ain't made cash, his intention could have been to do so, and that's enough- if they wanna keep clean he will go.
And if there are 'other' reasons, well it's still weird the man was present at the meeting.
Unbelievable that the man can get himself into such a mess- idiotic, a little continuity at defence crucial right now, but he's toast- NS could be stronger on this, they are stronger on other non stories and when a howler like this presents itself we get 'fox fate reamins unclear'. Show some teeth...

Tue, 2011-10-11 10:24 — martybee (not verified)

Why has no-one mentioned the financial links between Fox and Werrity such as joint ownership of property and that Fox holds/held shares in Werrities company??

Tue, 2011-10-11 10:30 — crabstix (not verified)

If my missus found out one of my best friends just happened to turn up at every 'away' trip I went on for work I would have hell to pay, even if these meets were just for golf. You know, firm grip on the shaft and all that!

Either it's to do with money or honey... or possibly both.

Tue, 2011-10-11 10:32 — swatantra

This Govt is definitely Thatcherite.
Poverty gap widening. Jobless totals up. And harsh ideological cuts to essential services.

Tue, 2011-10-11 12:10 — Ivan White (not verified)

So far we've had Hague, Gove and Fox giving jobs, contracts or inappropriate access to their friends, plus Cameron and Hunt firmly in Murdoch's pocket.

Mandelson's so-called 'sleaze' was hardly in the same league. He failed to tick a box on his mortgage application to say that a friend was making him a loan, and two enquiries into his second "offence" showed no wrongdoing whatsoever on his part.

No, when it comes to sleaze, the Tories are the masters. They're so bloody arrogant they think they can do what the hell they like.

http://cuttingedge2.forumotion.co.uk/

Tue, 2011-10-11 15:01 — M. Wenzl (not verified)

Given that Werritty was living rent free in a flat funded by the taxpayer, why isn't Fox resigning? David Laws did for an offence not altogether dissimilar.

Tue, 2011-10-11 16:14 — Louise (not verified)

So 'bad' Tories are typically Tory and 'bad' Labour politicians are closet Tories?

Why have parties at all, could just say good = Labour and bad = Tory? ;-)

Tue, 2011-10-11 16:26 — moretheylie (not verified)

its called Cameronysim .

Tue, 2011-10-11 16:27 — moretheylie (not verified)

"This Government is Blairite."

above all its neo conservative ..

Mon, 2011-10-10 18:07 — Des Demona (not verified)

'Fox said that Werritty was "not dependent on any transactional behaviour" at his MoD meetings "to maintain his income".

'Fox'? Those are in fact 'weasel' words if ever I heard them.

He has to go.

Mon, 2011-10-10 18:25 — Peter (not verified)

Same old Tory sleaze. Shame on the lot of them.

Mon, 2011-10-10 18:45 — M. Wenzl (not verified)

Surely Fox's professional relationship with Werritty is a sackable offence in itself, regardless of how deep the revelations go. It is a flagrant breach of the ministerial code, and how Cameron et al can throw their weight behind him yet again shines a light on their questionable judgement.

Mon, 2011-10-10 18:46 — Fergus Pickering (not verified)

TORY sleaze. Have you forgotten... well I could list them but surely you remember. Or is it not sleaze when it's Labour? Let me whisper the name Mandelson and follow it up with Lord anything-you-like and Indian millionaires and shagger Prescott.

Mon, 2011-10-10 19:00 — swatantra

I'm quite clear in my own mind that Fox will be gone by Xmas. The Tories were only cheering him on because he's on the rightwing and they don't want to lose one of their own.
Malcolm Rifkind is a disgrace.
Since when do visitors just pop into the MOD for a chat and a cup of tea, every month. Hes breached the Code and should go.
Social occassions my foot.

Mon, 2011-10-10 19:22 — Livers (not verified)

I was looking for somewhere in Central London to hook up with some old friends this week, sounds like the MOD cafe is perfect, do they offer fairtrade coffee?

I do hope so because last months curry club meeting at GCHQ was such a disappointment.

Mon, 2011-10-10 20:03 — p j wall (not verified)

They just don`t get it?, so much for Flashmans whiter then white approach to the new politics!!, 40 times?, FOUR ZERO times, this guy should be toast!, no questions asked, at least the meetings with Murdoch could be justified by some because they where all petrified of him!, and the retribution they faced if they crossed him?, but this guy Werrity had no reason to be in such a powerful position all because he was Fox`s`mate!!, and all we get from Tories is it`s not a hanging offence, he`s done nothing wrong, and show the proof what he`s done wrong!!!, they are so out of touch with the public mood! don`t they understand what the publics PERCEPTION of them is?, ARROGANT and OUT OF TOUCH!!!!.

Mon, 2011-10-10 20:29 — Freeman2

Fergus Pickering writes, 'TORY sleaze. Have you forgotten... well I could list them but surely you remember. Or is it not sleaze when it's Labour?'

Why don't you grow up Fergus? Are you saying Tory sleaze is okay because Labour was sleazy? Don't you realise most of us have contempt for all sleaze, whichever party does it?