Defiant Fox attacks press "frenzy"

Former defence secretary Liam Fox has launched a strong attack on the press. In a five-minute personal statement to the Commons, Fox said allegations that his relationship with Adam Werrity had compromised national security were "deeply hurtful". He said he was "very sorry" for breaching the ministerial code by allowing Werrity to attend meetings at the MoD and with political and business figures during trips overseas. Fox said he left "without bitterness or rancour" and does not blame anyone else for his resignation last week, ahead of a damning report into his conduct from the cabinet secretary. "I should have been more willing to accept the concerns of those around me," he said. "I have always believed in personal responsibility and I accept the cabinet secretary's conclusions." He continued: "I am pleased at the explicit acknowledgment that I neither sought, expected or received any financial gain, as had been widely and wrongly implied." Fox then turned to the media. "It is unacceptable that family and friends who have nothing to do with the central issues should be hounded and intimidated by elements of the media, including in this case elderly relatives and children," he said. Fox complained that in the midst of a media frenzy, "every bit of information, however irrelevant or immaterial, is sensationalised." "I believe there was in some quarters a personal vindictiveness, even hatred." Fox thanked fellow MPs and the cabinet for their "strong and generous support" and also thanked the many people, especially in his North Somerset constituency, who have written to him to show their support. Fox said his wife Jesme had shown "grace and dignity", and thanked the Conservative party leaders who have given him frontbench roles for the past 17 years. He pledged to fully support the government in the future.