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David Cameron: Liam Fox has done an excellent job Wealthy donors 'paid for Werritty to advise Liam Fox'
(about 4 hours later)
David Cameron has said Liam Fox "has done an excellent job" as pressure continues on the defence secretary. 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 row about the role of his friend and self-styled adviser Adam Werritty continues to dominate headlines. The donor - who wants to remain anonymous - told BBC political editor Nick Robinson that the group shared Mr Fox's ideological leanings.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson says Mr Fox believes he is the href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15271260" >victim of a hate campaign. But he said they did not have defence interests.
Mr Fox says he will "carry on doing the job" - but Labour say questions remain about who Mr Werritty met and whether Mr Fox broke ministerial rules. 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 over the past week after it emerged 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. 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.
Sun claims 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."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.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.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.""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."
Unofficial adviser 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".
Mr Fox has been accused of breaching ministerial guidelines in relation to his friendship with Mr Werritty, who was best man at his wedding and is his former flatmate. 'Wild gossip'
On Tuesday Mr Werritty was questioned by civil servants, who were expected to ask him why he had joined Mr Fox on 18 overseas trips despite having no official role. He also carried business cards describing him as an adviser to Mr Fox.
Nick Robinson says he understands that Mr Fox viewed Mr Werritty as a kind of unofficial adviser, but categorically denied to officials that he was in any sort of relationship with him.
He also understands that Mr Werritty was not paid by defence companies for specific pieces of information or arranging meetings - but was paid an annual retainer by a group of private clients for strategic and political advice.
The story about the break-in matters because it keeps Mr Fox squarely in the media cross hairs and because it raises the dreaded word "cover-up".The story about the break-in matters because it keeps Mr Fox squarely in the media cross hairs and because it raises the dreaded word "cover-up".
We now know journalists were misled by Conservative officials about the circumstances of a break-in at Liam Fox's house.We now know journalists were misled by Conservative officials about the circumstances of a break-in at Liam Fox's house.
We were told that Liam Fox was at home alone, we now know a male friend was staying there at the same time.We were told that Liam Fox was at home alone, we now know a male friend was staying there at the same time.
At one level the circumstances of Mr Fox's private life are entirely his matter but in the current context to have the idea of journalists being misled fuels the pressure on him.At one level the circumstances of Mr Fox's private life are entirely his matter but in the current context to have the idea of journalists being misled fuels the pressure on him.
Eventually an assessment has to be made about how far that is distracting him from doing his job.Eventually an assessment has to be made about how far that is distracting him from doing his job.
Downing Street are standing by him pending the results of the inquiry but I think they will be forming a view as to how long they can sustain this.Downing Street are standing by him pending the results of the inquiry but I think they will be forming a view as to how long they can sustain this.
Alastair Campbell used to have a view you couldn't survive more than 10 days with this sort of story, before a resignation became inevitable.Alastair Campbell used to have a view you couldn't survive more than 10 days with this sort of story, before a resignation became inevitable.
At Prime Minister's Questions, Labour leader Ed Miliband accused David 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. 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.
"It's one rule if you're in the cabinet, it's another rule for everybody else," Mr Miliband said.
Other Labour MPs pressed 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."
Mr Fox's press conference in Paris will not go ahead - nor will a planned 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".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.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. "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."
"I thought we had got past the point in politics though where we needed to worry about people's private lives ... There may be gossip, innuendo and tittle-tattle around but the fact is Liam is a very good defence secretary doing a very good job." 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.
Interim report "It's one rule if you're in the cabinet, it's another rule for everybody else," Mr Miliband said.
For Labour, Shadow Defence Secretary Jim Murphy said: "There were three unanswered issues at prime minister's questions. We need a full list of every minister and senior member of No 10 staff who has met Adam Werritty socially or officially since May 2010.
"The prime minister has to be clear, if the ministerial code has been breached in this case, will the minister have to go? As the prime minister said, that is not an issue for the inquiry, it is a matter for him.
"Finally, when did he find out his spokeswoman is a former colleague of Adam Werritty and worked for Atlantic Bridge? The defence secretary has questions to answer, but so now does the prime minister as well."
Gabby Bertin, Mr Cameron's spokeswoman, said later she knew Mr Werritty from her time working for Mr Fox when the Conservatives were in opposition and Mr Cameron knew she had worked for Atlantic Bridge, the charity set up by Mr Fox to promote links between the US and UK, which was dissolved this year.
A Whitehall inquiry has already been ordered into Mr Fox's links with Mr Werritty.
Number 10 has said serious mistakes were made and asked an internal inquiry to address "all remaining questions".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.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.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.