Everyone is rushing about - all to no real purpose. The events that will ultimately decide the fate of the Coalition are taking place outside here.
Certain Cabinet members are either stupid - unscrupulous - or so wrapped up in themselves that they are unable to see the folly of their own behaviour and its impact on government.
'Boy David' Cameron - the PR man par excellence - is in a dreadful dilemma:
to reprimand or not to reprimand;
to sack or to retain;
to appear calm or to have a fit of the screaming ab-dabs.
The last time he found himself on the horns of such a dilemma was over his communications director, one Andy Coulson! Remember him? 'Boy David' gave him a second chance - foolish - very foolish. The stink that rose up and surrounded Cameron himself was the result of Cameron not being firm and getting rid of him as soon as the whiff of wrong-doing appeared.
Then, there was the problem of Vince Cable being entrapped into making unwise statements to two 'planted' constituents. To preserve the Coalition, only limited action was taken against him. Time will tell if that was a wise decision.
Next, there was the problem of the 'speeding' charges against Chris Huhne and all the associated whispers. This culminated in the recent tweet-gate story. So far, 'Machiavelli' Huhne has kept his place. Watch this space!
Now the sh** has hit the fan for one of the most senior of ministers, Dr Liam Fox, Defence Secretary. Over the last couple of days, dribbles of information have emerged about a certain Mr Werrity and his friendship with Dr Fox.
In today's Telegraph, under the title:
'Liam Fox let controversial 'adviser' stay in spare room at expenses-funded flat'
Holly Watt, and James Kirkup write:
Adam Werritty also used the Defence Secretary’s London residence when setting up a defence consultancy firm. Until he moved out earlier this year, Dr Fox claimed House of Commons expenses for the flat, of around £1,400 a month for mortgage interest under the Additional Costs Allowance (ACA).
Dr Fox confirmed that Mr Werritty “used the spare room” in the flat in 2002-03. He confirmed that his friend had not paid for the room.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8814595/Liam-Fox-let-controversial-adviser-stay-in-spare-room-at-expenses-funded-flat.html
Oh Dear!
It seems that this Mr Werritty used regularly to visit Dr Fox at the Ministry of Defence: 14 times in 16 months. This is now under scrutiny. In addition, Mr Werritty accompanied Dr Fox on overseas trips and claimed to be an 'Adviser' to Dr Fox which, of course, gave him special privileges.
Rt Hon Jim Murphy MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, has drawn attention to the anomalous situation of Mr Werritty and his dealings with Dr Fox. Today, he wrote to the Prime Minister. The full text was reproduced in The Guardian (http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2011/oct/09/liam-fox-jim-murphy-letter)
Mr Murphy writes:
I am writing to you regarding the serious accusations surrounding Liam Fox, your defence secretary.
There appear to be very significant shortcomings in the scope of the inquiry announced by the MoD.
I am concerned that your judgement of Dr Fox will rest on the initial findings of the MoD-led inquiry announced on Friday. While any revelations from the inquiry will of course be relevant, there are important questions which I do not believe will be sufficiently addressed by this process. The terms of reference are narrow and simply inadequate in light of the evidence that has come to light.
Mr Murphy's concern is that there might have been a "breach of national security or the ministerial code". This would be a very serious matter. Too serious, in fact, for an MOD-led inquiry - which had been announced on Friday.
Mr Murphy concludes his letter by writing:
It is essential that we understand why a non-employee of the MoD enjoys the access he does and we need to be certain no commercial gain has arisen from such access. It is important that the breadth of this inquiry matches the severity of the accusations.
I agree with you when you said that the British people "expect the highest standards of conduct" from politicians. This is an opportunity for you to enforce that sentiment.
In light of the seriousness of these issues and their being in the public interest I am releasing this letter to the media.
Now, 'Boy David' Cameron has asked Ursula Brennan, Permanent Secretary at the MOD, to show him the report. Will this satisfy Mr Murphy? Only time will tell.
In the meantime, Dr Fox has issued a statement of his own. In this he says:
I accept that it was a mistake to allow distinctions to be blurred between my professional responsibilities and my personal loyalties to a friend. I am sorry for this.
At no stage did I or my department provide classified information or briefings to Mr Werritty or assist with his commercial work - let alone benefit personally from this work.
Nevertheless, I do accept that given Mr Werritty's defence-related business interests, my frequent contacts with him may have given an impression of wrongdoing, and may also have given third parties the misleading impression that Mr Werritty was an official adviser rather than simply a friend.
He went on to add:
I accept that with the benefit of hindsight I should have taken much greater care to ensure that any meetings with Adam Werritty, at which defence and security related issues were raised, were properly attended by officials and recorded - to protect myself and the Government from any suggestion of wrongdoing.
I have apologised to the Prime Minister and agreed with my permanent secretary to put in place new procedures to ensure that this does not happen again."
Hindsight! What about a bit of foresight?
Now - to return to my original theme - remember it, do you? The dilemma for 'Boy David' Cameron. He will not want to get rid of Dr Fox, if he can help it! Dr Fox has many, many supporters! He did not get rid of the two LibDems who caused him problems! He did not, in fact, get rid of Coulson - he resigned.
If push comes to shove, the question will be asked: 'has Cameron got balls - or has he got no balls?'
The dilemma, my friends, is this: If he has balls and gets rid of Dr Fox then his own Tory Party stalwarts will be furious. If he has no balls and keeps him - then the LibDems will moan and Labour will shout. Either way - he's 'well in schtuck'! Oh! The joys of being Prime Minister!
In the meantime, 'Tally Ho!' Foxy!
'Bye'
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