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Chris Grayling dismisses 'wild gossip' around Liam Fox Liam Fox: 'Wild gossip' dismissed by Chris Grayling
(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 "carry on doing the job I'm meant to do", as a colleague dismissed "wild gossip" 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. The row about the role of his friend and self-styled adviser Adam Werritty continues to dominate headlines.
"Liam is a very good defence secretary doing a very good job." 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.
Mr Fox has been under pressure over the past week after revelations about his friendship with lobbyist Adam Werritty. Employment Minister Chris Grayling told the BBC there was a "mass pursuit" of Mr Fox, who was doing a "good job".
He has also denied claims Conservative officials lied about a break-in at his home last year following claims in href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/politics/3866947/Tory-cover-up-over-Liam-Fox-burglary.html" >the Sun they were told he was alone at the time when in fact a man stayed overnight. Mr Fox has been under pressure over the past week after revelations about his friendship with lobbyist Mr Werritty, who was present on 18 overseas trips and met the defence secretary at the MoD 22 times.
Mr Fox said he was appalled at being portrayed as someone who had something to hide. Sun claims
He said he told police a friend was staying in the guest room and added for "clarity" that it was not Mr Werritty. Asked about his position on his way to Paris to meet his French counterpart on Wednesday, he 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.
Mr Fox said he told police a friend was staying in the guest room, and added 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'
"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.
Unofficial adviser
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. He also carried business cards describing him as an adviser to Mr Fox.
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. Our political editor 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.
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". 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.
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. Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to face questions about the conduct of his defence secretary at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons later on Wednesday.
Private lives
Asked about rumours that the defence secretary is gay - described by Mr Fox himself as "smears" in a 2005 interview - Employment Minister Chris Grayling told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "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. What really matters is, is someone doing an important capable job.
"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."
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.