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| Fox resigns: Met asked to investigate Werritty on fraud | Fox resigns: Met asked to investigate Werritty on fraud |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Metropolitan Police has been asked to investigate Adam Werrity, the close friend of former defence secretary Liam Fox, for possible fraud. | The Metropolitan Police has been asked to investigate Adam Werrity, the close friend of former defence secretary Liam Fox, for possible fraud. |
| Labour MP John Mann has asked the police to probe allegations Mr Werritty used business cards falsely claiming he was an adviser to Mr Fox. | |
| At the same time a firm he set up was receiving money from several wealthy supporters, it has been reported. | At the same time a firm he set up was receiving money from several wealthy supporters, it has been reported. |
| Mr Fox resigned after pressure over his working relationship with Mr Werrity. | Mr Fox resigned after pressure over his working relationship with Mr Werrity. |
| Mr Mann said he was also considering asking the Electoral Commission - which regulates political parties and their funding - to consider whether Mr Fox should face criminal proceedings over a failure to declare political donations. | Mr Mann said he was also considering asking the Electoral Commission - which regulates political parties and their funding - to consider whether Mr Fox should face criminal proceedings over a failure to declare political donations. |
| The latest comes after venture capitalist Jon Moulton on Friday said Mr Fox approached him after the election seeking funds for a company set up by Mr Werritty. | The latest comes after venture capitalist Jon Moulton on Friday said Mr Fox approached him after the election seeking funds for a company set up by Mr Werritty. |
| The Times newspaper reported that Mr Werritty set up the firm, Pargav, as a not-for-profit company to fund his trips abroad. | The Times newspaper reported that Mr Werritty set up the firm, Pargav, as a not-for-profit company to fund his trips abroad. |
| Liam Fox is gone but the questions remain. | |
| John Mann believes Adam Werritty's use of business cards claiming he was an adviser - coupled with the revelation that some wealthy backers claim they were unwittingly funding his numerous international visits - is evidence the 34-year-old may have broken the law. | |
| Mr Mann also said it is possible the Electoral Commission - which regulates political parties and their funding - may be asked to look into claims that the former defence secretary failed to declare payments which could be political donations. | |
| Mr Fox always maintained Mr Werritty was neither an official nor unofficial adviser. | |
| He told Parliament he had asked Mr Werritty to stop using the business cards last summer. | |
| Mr Moulton said he was told Pargav was involved in "security policy analysis and research". | Mr Moulton said he was told Pargav was involved in "security policy analysis and research". |
| According to the Daily Mail, Mr Moulton bought a defence company eight months before giving money to Pargav. | According to the Daily Mail, Mr Moulton bought a defence company eight months before giving money to Pargav. |
| Report due | Report due |
| Mr Fox's conduct is being investigated by Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell and a report is due to be published early next week. | Mr Fox's conduct is being investigated by Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell and a report is due to be published early next week. |
| It is expected to be very critical of his actions. | It is expected to be very critical of his actions. |
| The defence secretary had been under intense pressure this week after it emerged that Mr Werritty had met Mr Fox 22 times at the MoD and joined him on 18 overseas trips since he came to office last year - despite having no official role. | The defence secretary had been under intense pressure this week after it emerged that Mr Werritty had met Mr Fox 22 times at the MoD and joined him on 18 overseas trips since he came to office last year - despite having no official role. |
| Labour has called for a broader investigation into the rules governing ministerial conduct. | Labour has called for a broader investigation into the rules governing ministerial conduct. |
| Mr Werritty, a former flatmate of Mr Fox and the best man at his wedding, handed out business cards suggesting he was his adviser and was present at meetings Mr Fox had with military figures, diplomats and defence contractors. | Mr Werritty, a former flatmate of Mr Fox and the best man at his wedding, handed out business cards suggesting he was his adviser and was present at meetings Mr Fox had with military figures, diplomats and defence contractors. |
| Questions have been raised about who paid for Mr Werritty's business activities and whether he had personally benefited from his frequent access to the defence secretary. | Questions have been raised about who paid for Mr Werritty's business activities and whether he had personally benefited from his frequent access to the defence secretary. |
| The BBC understands officials at the Department for International Development had raised concerns about Mr Werritty's involvement in Sri Lanka where, it is claimed, defence contracts were being touted. | The BBC understands officials at the Department for International Development had raised concerns about Mr Werritty's involvement in Sri Lanka where, it is claimed, defence contracts were being touted. |