Fox backers ‘paid for Werritty’

12 October 2011 Last updated at 14:54 ET

A wealthy backer of Liam Fox has told the BBC he and several others raised funds to pay for Adam Werritty to act as the defence secretary’s adviser.

The donor – who wants to remain anonymous – told BBC political editor Nick Robinson that the group shared Mr Fox’s ideological leanings.

But he said they did not have defence interests.

Mr Fox has said he will not quit, but Labour say questions remain about whether Mr Fox broke ministerial rules.

The defence secretary has been under pressure after it emerged that his friend, the lobbyist Mr Werritty, was present on 18 overseas trips and met the defence secretary at the MoD 22 times since May 2010.

He also carried business cards describing himself as an adviser to Mr Fox.

‘Excellent job’

The BBC’s Nick Robinson says the wealthy backers who paid Mr Werritty an annual retainer did so because they saw him as someone who, unlike civil servants, could be relied on to champion support for Eurosceptic, pro-American and pro-Israeli policies.

Our political editor said the problem with this explanation was that having an adviser outside the rules of the civil service – and paid for by undeclared donors – was almost certainly a breach of ministerial rules.

At Prime Minister’s Questions on Wednesday, Labour MPs pressed David Cameron for more information about Mr Werritty’s meetings with officials and whether Mr Fox could keep his job, if it is shown he broke the ministerial code.

Mr Cameron said the ministerial code was clear that it was ultimately the prime minister’s decision and added: “I think the defence secretary has done an excellent job clearing up the complete mess he was left by Labour.”

The Cabinet Secretary is now running an official investigation into the matter and on Tuesday, officials questioned Mr Werritty – who was best man at Mr Fox’s wedding and is his former flatmate.

For his part, the BBC understands that Mr Fox viewed Mr Werritty as a kind of unofficial adviser, but has categorically denied to officials that he was in any sort of relationship with him.

Asked about his position on his way to Paris to meet his French counterpart on Wednesday, Mr Fox said: “I shall carry on doing the job I’m meant to do – the job I’m paid for.”

The defence secretary has also denied claims that Conservative officials lied about a break-in at his London home last year, following claims in the Sun that they had said Mr Fox was alone at the time – when in fact another man stayed in the flat overnight.

He said he had told police a friend – who was not Mr Werritty – had been staying in the guest room. His wife was stranded in Hong Kong by the volcanic ash cloud at the time.

“I was a victim of a violent crime, and I’m appalled at being portrayed as having something to hide. We are trying to establish why the media were given the impression I was alone.”

A Conservative spokesman said later they had established the suggestion Mr Fox was alone “was released in good faith and that it was the result of a genuine misunderstanding”.

‘Wild gossip’

Mr Fox’s planned press conference in Paris will not go ahead – nor will a keel-laying ceremony in Barrow on Thursday. Both cancellations were blamed on “logistical” reasons.

Employment Minister Chris Grayling, who ran Mr Fox’s failed Conservative leadership campaign in 2005, told the BBC there was a “mass pursuit” of Mr Fox, who was doing a “good job”.

Asked about rumours that the defence secretary is gay – described by Mr Fox himself as “smears” in a 2005 interview – Mr Grayling said there was “all kinds of wild gossip” about politicians.

“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. The reality is that the gossip is certainly circulating.”

Labour leader Ed Miliband accused Mr Cameron of being more interested in saving Mr Fox’s job than the jobs of hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country – as official figures showed UK unemployment had hit a 17-year high.

“It’s one rule if ’re in the cabinet, it’s another rule for everybody ,” Mr Miliband said.

Number 10 has said serious mistakes were made and asked an internal inquiry to address “all remaining questions”.

Mr Cameron is understood to have discussed the findings of an interim report on the inquiry with Mr Fox, but is not expected to make a final decision on his future until he sees the full report.

The original MoD report was due on 21 October but Downing Street now says there is no timetable, as it will include the Cabinet Secretary’s work on whether Mr Fox broke the ministerial code.

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