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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
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| Tory Aitken returns to politics | |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Disgraced former Tory Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken is to lead a study into prison reform. | |
| Mr Aitken will head a policy task force for think tank the Centre for Social Justice, which advises Conservative leader David Cameron on social issues. | |
| He was jailed for 18 months in 1999 for perjury during a libel action. | He was jailed for 18 months in 1999 for perjury during a libel action. |
| Speaking to the Observer, the 65-year-old confirmed he would be heading the study. | |
| Mr Aitken resigned as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 1997 so he could sue the Guardian over allegations that a Saudi businessman had paid for him to stay at the Paris Ritz in breach of ministerial rules. | Mr Aitken resigned as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 1997 so he could sue the Guardian over allegations that a Saudi businessman had paid for him to stay at the Paris Ritz in breach of ministerial rules. |
| There was a personal rehabilitation for Jonathan Aitken during his time in jail Nick WoodCentre for Social Justice | There was a personal rehabilitation for Jonathan Aitken during his time in jail Nick WoodCentre for Social Justice |
| Launching the action, he insisted that the "simple sword of truth" would help him win. | Launching the action, he insisted that the "simple sword of truth" would help him win. |
| He served almost seven months of his sentence for committing perjury during the libel case before being released in January 2000. | He served almost seven months of his sentence for committing perjury during the libel case before being released in January 2000. |
| Confirming he was taking the prison reform job, he said: "It is a cause dear to my heart for obvious reasons. | Confirming he was taking the prison reform job, he said: "It is a cause dear to my heart for obvious reasons. |
| "It is an assignment well worth taking extremely seriously. This isn't an ego trip for me. This is a job to be done. I have a very good team who I think will help to do it well." | "It is an assignment well worth taking extremely seriously. This isn't an ego trip for me. This is a job to be done. I have a very good team who I think will help to do it well." |
| Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who runs the think tank, will formally unveil the appointment on Monday. | Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who runs the think tank, will formally unveil the appointment on Monday. |
| 'Direct experience' | 'Direct experience' |
| Nick Wood, media advisor to the Centre for Social Justice, discussed the decision to bring the former minister back into the political frontline. | Nick Wood, media advisor to the Centre for Social Justice, discussed the decision to bring the former minister back into the political frontline. |
| He told the BBC: "There was a personal rehabilitation for Jonathan Aitken during his time in jail. He has written about this, he has talked about it and he has campaigned for prison reform." | He told the BBC: "There was a personal rehabilitation for Jonathan Aitken during his time in jail. He has written about this, he has talked about it and he has campaigned for prison reform." |
| And, explaining Iain Duncan Smith's thinking behind the appointment, he went on: "One of the things that Iain is keen on is that people leading political groups should have some direct experience of the subjects they are working on. | And, explaining Iain Duncan Smith's thinking behind the appointment, he went on: "One of the things that Iain is keen on is that people leading political groups should have some direct experience of the subjects they are working on. |
| "I think Jonathan Aitken certainly has the experience of jail and he has shown a great deal of thought and interest in it since." | "I think Jonathan Aitken certainly has the experience of jail and he has shown a great deal of thought and interest in it since." |