Fox faces further best man claims

7 October 2011 Last updated at 23:50 ET

Adam Werritty was the defence secretary’s best man at his wedding in 2005

Defence Secretary Liam Fox has arrived on a visit to Libya amid further claims about his working relationship with his best man, Adam Werritty.

It has emerged Mr Werritty set up a meeting for Dr Fox with businessmen in Dubai, despite having no official role.

On Friday, Dr Fox ordered a Ministry of Defence inquiry into whether their relationship had breached security or the ministerial code.

Labour called on Dr Fox to answer questions directly.

The latest claims emerged as Dr Fox arrived in the Libyan capital, Tripoli, and met Jalal al-Digheily, defence minister in the Libyan National Transitional Council.

Dr Fox has been accused of giving Mr Werritty, a former flatmate and his best man in 2005, access to the MoD and allowing him to go on previous foreign trips with him.

The inquiry will examine whether there was a breach of security or the ministerial code, which requires ministers to ensure there is no conflict between their public duties and private interests.

It will be carried out by the top civil servant at the MoD.

Business cards

BBC political correspondent Adam Fleming said Mr Werritty had brokered the Dubai meeting in June as Dr Fox was returning from a visit to British troops in Afghanistan.

It is reported Dr Fox and the businessmen discussed technology that allows service personnel to make encrypted phone calls home.

The MoD said no officials were present but one attendee at the meeting said he had been under the impression everyone had been security cleared. Mr Werritty had no such clearance.

Adam Werritty (centre, head bowed) accompanied Liam Fox on a trip to Sri Lanka

As well as visiting Dr Fox’s office 14 times in a year-and-a-half, the defence secretary confirmed on Friday that Mr Werritty used to carry business cards which said he was an adviser to Dr Fox.

Now another business card has surfaced, which it is claimed Mr Werritty used to suggest he worked in Dr Fox’s office in the Commons.

Speaking on Friday, before the new claims, the defence secretary told the BBC that “wild allegations” had been made against him.

“Because there have been some allegations of security leaks and so on, I’ve asked the permanent secretary to look into that for me,” he said, adding that he would accept the official’s findings.

Of Mr Werritty’s business cards that said he was an adviser to Dr Fox, the MP said: “I understand those cards are no longer used.

“I’ve made it very clear to him that it’s unacceptable to carry a card saying that he’s a personal adviser.”

‘Panic measure’

Labour suggested the internal inquiry was a “panic measure” and Dr Fox “should be answering questions today”.

“He has brought this controversy upon his head,” shadow defence secretary Jim Murphy said. “There have been straightforward questions that he has just been unable to answer.”

Statements made about Mr Werritty’s role had later been turned out to be wrong, Mr Murphy suggested, and Dr Fox must now set what paperwork Mr Werritty had seen, how often he vid MoD buildings and for what reason.

“He (Mr Werritty) is not paid by the MoD, he is not paid by the House of Commons, but he is travelling around the world handing out business cards with House of Commons logos as an adviser to Liam Fox.

“It becomes murkier and murkier.”

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