Cameron 'acted properly' over Fox

The prime minister acted properly "at all times" with regard to the allegations about former defence secretary Liam Fox. Sir George Young came to the Commons today to make a statement on the cabinet secretary's investigation into Werrity's links with Liam Fox. Fox resigned as defence secretary last Friday amid a slew of allegations about the business relationship he had with Werrity, who was best man at the former cabinet minister's wedding in 2005. Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell concluded that Fox had broken the ministerial code in allowing Werrity, who had no official role, to present himself as an adviser and attend meetings in the UK and abroad with political and business figures. Sir George said: "As the ministerial code makes clear, it is the prime minister's duty to enforce the ministerial code, having consulted with the cabinet secretary. My right honourable friend the prime minister has therefore acted at all time in accordance with the proper process." He said the cabinet secretary had concluded that Fox "clearly" broke the ministerial code and as a result the management of minister's private offices needs to be tightened up. Sir George said Fox's "close and visible association" with his friend "fuelled the general impression that Mr Werrity spoke on behalf of the British government". He added that the "range and frequency", as well as the context of their meetings, added to that perception. The cabinet secretary concluded that donations to fund Werrity's activities by wealthy individuals "gave rise to the perception" of a conflict of interest. Werrity should not have had access to Fox's diary or itineraries and should not have been invited to meetings at the MoD. He also said that "while Mr Werrity is not a lobbyist", the government legislate next year for a statutory register of lobbyists. A consultation document will be published next month. "This government is committed to working to rebuild confidence in our political and democratic institutions and we will continue to put in place any measure necessary to ensure that the highest standards, rightly expected of our elected representatives, are met," he said. Shadow leader of the House Angela Eagle said it is a matter of "deep regret" that the prime minister did not make the statement, as he is "the guardian of the ministerial code". She said the cabinet secretary's investigation was inadequate and his report "raises more questions than it answers". "The cabinet secretary has been forced to rely on the word of Adam Werritty and the former defence secretary, whose explanations have repeatedly unravelled at the first hint of scrutiny," she said. "This report merely scratches the surface of potential misconduct in government." Eagle said Werrity was a "privately-funded special adviser" in a shadow political operation that undermined the civil service and there had been no investigation of the benefits donors were promised for funding him. She called for a "categorical assurance" that no similar practices are taking place "anywhere in government". Eagle also said Werrity's presence at meetings with Fox in Washington DC, Sri Lanka and India were also unexplained by the report. She told the House that further investigations are "essential and urgent" and said the public will "only conclude that this government has something to hide". Sir George replied that a prime minister has never made a statement about a ministerial resignation, and even an oral statement on the cabinet secretary's report has never happened before. He remarked that Labour "are not negotiating form a position of strength" on this issue, and noted that Lord Mandelson resigned twice from cabinet but there was no prime ministerial statement on either occasion. Sir George also defended David Cameron against charges from Labour MPs that he was indecisive and should have sacked Fox earlier. "Far from the prime minister dithering and delaying, he asked for something to be on his desk on the Monday," he told the House. "He then asked the cabinet secretary to produce a report. "Out of decency and fair play, he decided to wait until the report was available before taking action." Fox quit four days before the report was presented to Cameron.