Defense secretary quits
Source: Agencies |
October 16, 2011, Sunday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
BRITISH Defense Secretary Liam Fox resigned on Friday over his friendship with a businessman who posed as his adviser, jolting Prime Minister David Cameron's coalition government and potentially slowing down efforts to reform the military.
Cameron named Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, generally seen as a safe pair of hands, as the new defense secretary. Hammond is considered to be on the right of the governing Conservative Party, but not to the same extent as Fox, around whom many ministers had rallied before his resignation.
Fox, 50, who oversaw Britain's military operations in Afghanistan and Libya, admitted he had allowed the lines between his personal and professional life to blur.
The British media have in the last week been awash with stories about the relationship between Fox and his former flatmate and best man, Adam Werritty, 34, who met often with Fox at the defense ministry and on his trips abroad.
"I mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my government activities to become blurred," Fox said in a resignation letter to Cameron.
"The consequences of this have become clearer in recent days. I am very sorry for this."
The loss of Fox could open Cameron up to allegations of sleaze.
Cameron named Transport Secretary Philip Hammond, generally seen as a safe pair of hands, as the new defense secretary. Hammond is considered to be on the right of the governing Conservative Party, but not to the same extent as Fox, around whom many ministers had rallied before his resignation.
Fox, 50, who oversaw Britain's military operations in Afghanistan and Libya, admitted he had allowed the lines between his personal and professional life to blur.
The British media have in the last week been awash with stories about the relationship between Fox and his former flatmate and best man, Adam Werritty, 34, who met often with Fox at the defense ministry and on his trips abroad.
"I mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest and my government activities to become blurred," Fox said in a resignation letter to Cameron.
"The consequences of this have become clearer in recent days. I am very sorry for this."
The loss of Fox could open Cameron up to allegations of sleaze.
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