British defence secretary resigns over "adviser" scandal

Oct 14, 2011, 17:34 GMT

London - Britain's Defence Secretary Liam Fox resigned Friday following a scandal over his use of a close friend as an adviser, with questions still mounting over the security and financial implications of the affair.

'I mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my government activities to become blurred. The consequences of this have become clearer in recent days. I am very sorry for this,' Fox said Friday.

The resignation of the 50-year old minister, a staunch Atlanticist and representative of the Tory right, is a blow to Prime Minister David Cameron who Friday praised Fox for the 'good job' he had done in connection with Britain's military involvement in Libya and Afghanistan.

Cameron later appointed Conservative Philip Hammond, the former Transport Secretary, as the new defence secretary. Hammond, 55, who comes from a business background, has little experience in military matters but is seen as an accomplished performer within the Conservative-Liberal coalition government.

Fox had come under growing pressure for his use of Adam Werrity, a long-term friend and defence consultant, to act as his personal adviser.

Although Werrity, 34, was not employed by the Ministry of Defence (MoD), he had accompanied Fox on numerous foreign trips since the Conservatives came to power in coalition with the Liberals in May, 2010.

As the scandal grew, questions were asked about the security implications of the relationship and about the financing of Werrity's role.

There were also signs that the affair was beginning to have an impact on the armed forces, given Britain's current involvement in Afghanistan and Libya.

Fox and Werrity first met in 1998, when Werrity was a student researcher in parliament in London.

They maintained contact over the years and Werrity later moved to London to stay in Fox's flat and was his best man at his wedding in 2005.

Werrity later earned a salary from Atlantic Bridge, a charity founded by Fox in 1997 to promote Anglo-American relations.

The Times reported Friday that Werrity's jetset life style at the side of Fox was financed by pro-American and pro-Israeli lobbyists as well as a corporate intelligence company with close interests in Sri Lanka, a country visited frequently by the two men.

Werrity's unofficial status and the high level of access and influence he will have gained while accompanying Fox were still being investigated by officials Friday.

A list released by the MoD showed that Werrity accompanied Fox on 18 out of 48 foreign visits, including to Sri Lanka, Singapore, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bahrain, Hong Kong, Israel, Washington and Tampa, Florida, where both met US General John Allen, the commander of ISAF forces in Afghanistan.

There were also frequent meetings between Fox and Werrity in Dubai, where the minister repeatedly stopped over on the way back from visiting British forces in Afghanistan.

Fox told parliament earlier this week that Werritty had 'no access to classified documents,' was not briefed on 'classified matters' and was 'not reliant on the MoD' to maintain his income.

However, as Werrity disappeared from public view, and Fox came under increased and visible pressure, the minister took the decision to resign to preempt further damaging revelations expected in the weekend media, commentators said.