Fox Pressurised Over Undeclared US Dinner

The week of increasingly difficult disclosures about the Defence Secretary and his associate continues as new revelations about an undeclared dinner bash in the US emerge on Friday.

Both Dr Liam Fox and Adam Werritty, an unofficial advisor and former flatmate, were guests at the fund-raising dinner at the Mandarin Oriental hotel where they met American-based lobbyists for the defence industry and leading US military officials.

The £320 per head event was undeclared by Dr Fox, who said he'd attended the dinner during a holiday.

According to the Daily Mail, sources are describing Dr Fox's position as "increasingly untenable", and that he will be forced to resign.

On Thursday, a defiant David Cameron dismissed an assertion from David Milliband that he had shown himself to be a "weak Prime Minister" for not taking measures against his Defence Secretary over the spate of allegations.

But Mr Cameron said it would have been weak for him to jump to conclusions before knowing all the facts.

Dr Fox responded to the allegations saying he was focusing on his job.

"We are back to complete normal working mode," he told reporters.

"I am continuing to do what is needed at the moment which is the defence secretary focuses on defence issues."

Liam Fox has been facing fresh politically damaging allegations throughout the week. On Thursday, it was being reported that he took five MPs to Washington during his leadership bid.

According to the Guardian, a charity linked with Dr Fox, the Defence Secretary, paid for a total of five MPs to join him in Washington around October 18, 2005 – coinciding with the first round of voting in the leadership election, which Fox eventually lost to David Cameron.

The minister also faced continued pressure over his Atlantic Bridge charity, who paid for the flights. Its trustees dissolved the organisation last month after the Charity Commission criticised the registered charity's rightwing agenda.

Dr Fox was then forced to explain his working and personal relationship with friend Jim Werritty, who was reported to have gained privileged access, attended meetings and carried out some official business with Fox despite holding no official position.

Mr Werritty was also believed to have attended the 2005 Washington trip.

Questions have been raise about how Mr Werritty was funded during his business and about the propriety of his unofficial status.

Jim Murphy, Labour's Shadow Defence Secretary, said that political storm clouds are now gathering above Liam Fox's head.

"These allegations appear to blow a hole Liam Fox's story. He appears to have received funding which he hasn't declared and funded Mr Werritty's actions as his unofficial adviser. Mr Werritty has seemingly profited from his association with Mr Fox.

"This appears a clear breach of the Ministerial Code and Parliament's rules.

Mr Murphy said that unless the Defence Secretary can disprove the claims immediately it was hard to see how long he could continue.

(DW/BMcC)