Fox under pressure
James Forsyth 12:40pm
The Westminster Fox-hounds think they have picked up the scent this morning. Enemies of the Defence Secretary, of whom there are many, are convinced that they'll be able to bring him to ground over his links to Adam Werrity.
Werrity was Fox's best man and is a good friend of the Defence Secretary. But the problems stem from the fact that Werrity, who holds no official position, was dishing out cards saying he was an "adviser" to Fox, arranging meetings for him and attending diplomatically important events with the Defence Secretary.
Fox has tried to kill off this story by asking the permanent secretary to investigate whether he has breached the ministerial code. But friends of the defence secretary were alarmed by his performance on BBC Breakfast this morning (above) where he just kept repeating the same answer in response to four different questions ("I've asked the permanent secretary to look into that") while looking deeply uncomfortable. This was followed by him pulling out of an interview on the Today Programme.
Jim Murphy, his Labour opposite number, has capitalised on Fox's refusal to say whether he had ever introduced Werrrity to people who could be useful to him in business or was aware that Werrity
was carrying a business card describing himself as Fox's adviser. He has issued a statement saying that "these are events only [Fox] knows about and it would be easier if he just answered
questions directly".
Previous
strapworld
October 7th, 2011 12:52pm Report this commentHague took his pal along with him to sensitive area's. Perhaps it is just nice to have your pals along with you?
But it is all so bloody petty.
IF, and I doubt it, security has been breached then Fox should resign. BUT when it is proved to be a storm in a teacup I do hope Fox will enquire as to how this story hit the headlines. Which special adviser started the story and on whose behalf was he/she working?
It has killed the pussy story!
This lot are as bad as the previous incompetents.
perdix
October 7th, 2011 1:13pm Report this commentFox is reported to have told his friend that it was inappropriate to give out cards claiming to be an adviser.
Scary Biscuits
October 7th, 2011 1:53pm Report this commentMany good leader seek advice from people other than their direct subordinates. It is often useful to discuss things with people for their different perspective or just to rehearse an argument. That is healthy.
What is less healthy is Werrity being indiscrete and getting business cards done that imply he was something he was not.
Anan
October 7th, 2011 2:13pm Report this commentSame old BBC crap. I'd love to see the BBC presenters talk like this with a Labour minister or now (thankfully) shadow minister. And shame on Forsyth and the rest of baldy Hague's minions for making a big deal of it. We see in this hounding of Fox nothing more than a disturbing nexus between the ageing fetus from the north who fancies himself an imperial viceroy, and the Labour morons who seek a return to power at any cost.
Fox looked calm and composed, and responded to these ridiculous questions perfectly correctly - an investigation is under way, and there's no need for him to answer questions from some overpayed moron who spends his whole day sitting on his backside reading off a screen.
As if it were needed, this is even more evidence that it's well beyond time to break up the BBC once and for all. All the money they get through extortion of taxpayers is being used only for Labour propaganda. The BBC should be consigned to the dustbin of history where it can join the Marxism which pervades it. (Sopell, Paxman and the other BBC Marxists practice a very strange form of that philosophy - Marxism which applies to everyone else in the country, but not them with their fabulous salaries, luxury lifestyles, mansions and private schools for their children!)
FvH
October 7th, 2011 2:24pm Report this commentThere probably isn't much in this but the stupidity of ministers seems breathtaking
Vague with his "special" man friend, Gove with the SPAD e-mails and now this !!!???
TomTom
October 7th, 2011 2:25pm Report this commentThreatening the Chairman & CEO of 3M Corporation is not the best move - blackmail is a very bad move - when the US lawyers have finished filing the suit Fox and his friends will regret ever attempting such a stunt.
paulo anonymous
October 7th, 2011 2:29pm Report this commentFox came across very badly on TV today. Obviously with something to hide.
I have never liked him and think he has an arrogant superiority complex about himself.
(and my politics is very right wing - righter than the Conservative party... so this isn't some lefty tribalist whinge.
Lord Boyders
October 7th, 2011 3:12pm Report this commentAnan, you're right about the BBC but he's gay and he took his friend with him to Sri Lanka. He is an idiot for doing this, and he should resign immediately no matter how badly this reflects on the Government. Shame alround.
TrevorsDen
October 7th, 2011 3:44pm Report this commentCrudity rules
David L
October 7th, 2011 3:58pm Report this commentTwit.
Ben G
October 7th, 2011 4:49pm Report this commentWhy shouldn't ministers by advised by people they happen to know?
Weird huh?
October 7th, 2011 6:21pm Report this commentHow much is this investigation going to cost?
Who in the MoD has got the spare time to conduct an investigation like this without impacting on MoD outputs?
Who is qualified in the MoD to conduct this kind of investigation?
Is it normal for a Minister to be investigated by one of his own subordinates?
If these allegations are "wild" then why bother with an investigation?
Why does Fox always look as if he is on the verge of exploding (no pun intended)?
Keith
October 7th, 2011 10:22pm Report this commentWhat a tedious story. Why does anyone care?
A classic case of the political class disappearing up its own @rsehole while the rest of us wonder what we pay them for.
RCE
October 8th, 2011 9:43am Report this commentWhat is the point in going on an interview then not answering the questions? Fox looks like shifty and deceitful.
It is very difficult to imagine our politicians sinking any lower. I bet no-one else in the MoD is allowed to take their mates away with them on official trips.
TomTom
October 8th, 2011 11:49am Report this comment"What a tedious story. Why does anyone care?"
You are right. Fox married Jesme Beard in 2005 before the leadership election, and if his friend uses the portcullis logo of The House of Commons no one should mind him shaking down major corporations for $60 million saying Cabinet is behind him.
Banana Republics have this kind of behaviour all the time
willitblend
October 12th, 2011 2:47pm Report this commentIts obvious the guy is gay and these trips are nothing more than an attempt to spend time with his gay lover.
Attempting to deflect the questions to an internal investigation only makes him look guilty because if there was nothing to hide, you would passionately say what happened and not repeat saying that someone else is dealing with it, which is his way ofavoiding a very SIMPLE question because it allows him to not say waht he wants, while appeaing to be complying to an internal source who all look after each other.
Liam wants to save himself and Adam Werrity, but the reality is the press have a sniff of a good old fashioned gay sex scandal and they won't let this go.
And when they do find evidence, and trust me they will, this guy will be finished in politics for going on camera which is why he's already cancelling interviews becuase he knows they will come back to haunt him.
Christopher Mahoney
October 15th, 2011 4:50pm Report this commentI've never understood why, in a parliamentary system, a Tory government cannot defund the BBC. (Any more than I can understand why John Boehner can't defund the US state broacast organs. State broadcast media is as stupid as state print media (which the UK got rid of when it "freed" the Times.)
mestalla
October 16th, 2011 8:22pm Report this commentThis is not the Beeb waging a war against the right wing of the Tory Party...how can it be when "The Telegraph" seems to be at the forefront of many if not most of the revelations/stories/allegations behind the Foxhunt
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