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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Chris Grayling dismisses 'wild gossip' around Liam Fox | Chris Grayling dismisses 'wild gossip' around Liam Fox |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Liam Fox has said he will continue in his job - as a colleague dismissed "wild rumours" circulating about the defence secretary. | Liam Fox has said he will continue in his job - as a colleague dismissed "wild rumours" circulating about the defence secretary. |
| Minister Chris Grayling told the BBC: "I thought we had got past the point in politics where we needed to worry about people's private lives. | Minister Chris Grayling told the BBC: "I thought we had got past the point in politics where we needed to worry about people's private lives. |
| "Liam is a very good defence secretary doing a very good job." | "Liam is a very good defence secretary doing a very good job." |
| Mr Fox has been under pressure over the past week after revelations about his friendship with lobbyist Adam Werritty. | Mr Fox has been under pressure over the past week after revelations about his friendship with lobbyist Adam Werritty. |
| He has also denied claims Conservative officials lied about a break-in at his home last year following claims in >the Sun they were told he was alone at the time when in fact a man stayed overnight. | |
| Mr Fox said he was appalled at being portrayed as someone who had something to hide. | |
| He said he told police a friend was staying in the guest room and added for "clarity" that it was not Mr Werritty. | He said he told police a friend was staying in the guest room and added for "clarity" that it was not Mr Werritty. |
| Responding to the Sun's front page, Mr Fox said: "As I told the police at the time, a friend was staying in the guest room. | Responding to the Sun's front page, Mr Fox said: "As I told the police at the time, a friend was staying in the guest room. |
| "My wife was stranded in Hong Kong due to the ash cloud. For the sake of clarity it was not Adam Werritty. | "My wife was stranded in Hong Kong due to the ash cloud. For the sake of clarity it was not Adam Werritty. |
| 'Rather shabby' | 'Rather shabby' |
| "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." |
| The burglary at the defence secretary's London flat coincided with the general election campaign. | The burglary at the defence secretary's London flat coincided with the general election campaign. |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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. | 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. |
| The latest allegations will put more pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron, who will face questions in the Commons later over the conduct of his defence secretary. | The latest allegations will put more pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron, who will face questions in the Commons later over the conduct of his defence secretary. |
| Employment Minister Chris Grayling acknowledged that "the gossip is certainly circulating" but stressed that Mr Fox and his wife had always appeared to him "a very happily married couple". | |
| Asked about rumours that the defence secretary is gay - described by Mr Fox himself as "smears" in a 2005 interview - Mr Grayling said: "If you look around the Westminster village you will find all kinds of wild gossip about all kinds of individuals in all parties. That doesn't mean they are not good at their jobs. | |
| "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. The question is, is somebody doing an important and capable job." | "I thought we had got past the point in politics though where we needed to worry about people's private lives. The question is, is somebody doing an important and capable job." |
| He added: "I've not seen anything emerge in any of this that would give me rise to believe that Liam has done anything substantially wrong or would call his position into question." | He added: "I've not seen anything emerge in any of this that would give me rise to believe that Liam has done anything substantially wrong or would call his position into question." |
| Shadow defence minister Kevan Jones said the prime minister was afraid to act. | Shadow defence minister Kevan Jones said the prime minister was afraid to act. |
| He said: "This is becoming a judgement on the prime minister's judgement, and in terms of the lectures he's given us about new politics and ethics, I'm sorry Mr Fox's activities are looking rather shabby." | He said: "This is becoming a judgement on the prime minister's judgement, and in terms of the lectures he's given us about new politics and ethics, I'm sorry Mr Fox's activities are looking rather shabby." |
| A Whitehall inquiry has already been ordered into Mr Fox's links with Mr Werritty. | 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, which is due on 21 October. | 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, which is due on 21 October. |