Further Claims Link Werritty To Ministers

A Labour MP has demanded an investigation into another defence minister's relationship with Liam Fox's self-styled adviser Adam Werritty.

John Mann has written to the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests to investigate whether Gerald Howarth breached the ministerial code - and whether there have been any other breaches by ministers.

In response to a parliamentary question, it was revealed Mr Howarth, minister with responsibility for defence exports, met Mr Werritty on three occasions, two of them at social functions.

But on September 27, 2011 he met Mr Werritty and a representative of the Iraq Research Group (IRG) at the suggestion of the then-defence secretary Dr Fox.

IRG has been identified as one of six donors to Pargav, the not-for-profit organisation which funded Mr Werritty's overseas travel - the purpose of which has never fully been explained.

Dr Fox met Mr Werritty at least 18 times when abroad, and 22 times at the Ministry of Defence.

A spokesman for the MoD admitted that departmental business was discussed at the meeting in September - and that no officials were present, something no longer allowed under changes to the ministerial code.

In his letter, Mr Mann asked the Independent Adviser on Ministerial Interests to examine "whether any other breaches have taken place in relation to similar activity in government".

Labour has argued the inquiry into Dr Fox's relationship with Adam Werritty was too narrow.

Despite the Government's insistence that "all questions will be answered" and the resignation of Dr Fox, there remain concerns about why Mr Werritty was so close to the Ministry of Defence, and which ministers may have strayed into his orbit.