PROFILE: Liam Fox: Colourful politician with traditionalist agenda

Oct 14, 2011, 16:31 GMT

London - Defence Secretary Liam Fox was a high-flyer in Britain's Conservative Party, who linked a colourful lifestyle with a dogged pursuit of his right-wing, traditionalist political views.

The 50-year-old medical doctor from Glasgow, Scotland, has been the darling of the Tory right ever since he switched to politics in the early 1990s.

He is renowned for his sociable nature and, earlier this year, laughed off criticism over his decision to go to the pub when Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials were helping to organize the evacuation of British nationals from Libya.

'It's a bit like asking Churchill if he regrets having a drink during World War Two,' Fox answered his critics.

Fox attracted attention last year when he counted Margaret Thatcher, the 86-year-old former prime minister, among his guests at his 50th birthday party.

He never hid his traditionalist pro-Atlanticist views on world affairs, and in 1997, founded the Atlantic Bridge charity to promote Anglo-American relations.

Following a long spell as the Conservatives' defence spokesman in opposition, Fox was made defence secretary in May, 2010.

But his relationship with Prime Minister David Cameron, who describes himself as a 'liberal Conservative,' has not always been easy.

Fox openly criticized the government defence cuts and caused embarrassment when he described Afghanistan as a 'broken, 13th century country.'

In 2005 Fox, who had been teased for his bachelor partying lifestyle, married his long term girlfriend Jesme Baird, also a doctor.

But in the end, it was Fox' close, intriguing relationship with Adam Werrity, a friend since 1998, and best man at his wedding, that cost him his job.