http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15300751
David Cameron has now lost one of his most senior Cabinet ministers following the resignation of Liam Fox as Defence Secretary.
It is an extremely heavy personal blow for Dr Fox, after over a decade on the Conservative frontbench, a year and a half of which saw him occupy a very high-profile position in the Cabinet, in charge of military operations in both Afghanistan and Libya.
But it was clear almost as soon as this story broke that Fox would not survive in his job.
The spectre of his best-man at his wedding, Adam Werritty, accompanying Dr Fox on foreign trips to Dubai amongst others, when he was neither a paid advisor or a civil servant, brought the latter's judgement into severe question and raised speculation that this was a breach of the Ministerial Code.
Fox had, however unintentionally, allowed his personal and political activities to become blurred and the revelations that have come out so far certainly have given the impression of wrong-doing. I find it unbelievable that Mr Werritty was allowed to carry business cards carrying the Portcullis symbol and stating that he was an advisor to Dr Fox when he was nothing of the kind.
It is clear that more details of Dr Fox's activities have yet to be publicised. The Cabinet Secretary has yet to release his report on the affair. The Electoral Commission is poised to investigate Fox's affairs too, amidst new claims that he failed to declare sources of funding. http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5iwlm0FR5dCTGqzunJTlMNARayw9w?docId=N0095721318721984977A And with the announcement that the Government is to look into changing the rules on political lobbying, this is really starting to look like an episode David Cameron might want to forget.
Add to this, the announcement that Mr Werritty could now be questioned by police on suspicion of fraud, this affair could run on for the foreseeable future.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15324686
Dr Fox was a very competent minister with a strong handle on the workings of an extremely complex department.
In his time on the frontbenches, Fox, although considered to be a standard-bearer for the Tory right, had earned respect from all sides of the House of Commons and as well as his constituents. His resignation as Defence Secretary has brought a very distinguished frontline career to an untimely halt.
It is very hard to see, certainly in the short- or medium-term, Liam Fox making a return to the political limelight.
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