Liam Fox resigns

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15300751

---------- Post added at 16:18 ---------- Previous post was at 16:16 ----------

Can't help wondering what's about to be revealed that finally made him realise he had to jump ship ...

This has been, for me, really hard to follow. It seemed inevitable that he would have to resign but the exact nature of his alleged misdeeds seem to be unclear.

Here is how I understand it. He took this friend of his, Werritty, on official government business trips. Werritty was referred to as a special advisor to Liam Fox but was not on the government payroll and was instead being paid by 'backers of Mr Fox'. Both Mr Fox and Werritty seemed to be concentrating a lot of time on Sri Lanka, with suspicions of financial benefits to Werritty?

I didn't follow it at first and am now finding the story very inaccessible..

Me too. I also want to know is whose hand was actually in the cookie jar.

[Escapee]

I have my suspicions about what may have been revealed but would not openly post them.

I am also wondering if we may get to the bottom of any companies that have handed over some dosh!

[Mick Fisher]

About time IMHO.

Another Minister who is either clueless or corrupt.

Is their anyone with a clue within this lacklustre bunch who are purportedly running the Country these days?

[LondonRoad]

He was the year below me at my school. I always knew he was a ne'er do well

One of the few in the cabinet who went to a state school I believe.

Originally Posted by LondonRoad

He was the year below me at my school. I always knew he was a ne'er do well

One of the few in the cabinet who went to a state school I believe.

40% of the Cabinet attended state schools.

Sutton Trust

School backgrounds of Ministers
Just over six in ten (62%) of Ministers attending Cabinet, and six in ten (60%) Ministers went to independent schools, which educate just 7% of the school population. This compares with half (50%) of backbench MPs from the Liberal Democrat and Conservative Parties in the 2010 Parliament, and just over a third (35%) of all MPs, who attended fee-paying schools.

Less than a quarter (24%) of Ministers were educated in comprehensive state schools, with the remainder having attended state grammar schools (16%). The proportion of independently educated Ministers attending Cabinet (62%) is nearly twice that of previous Cabinets under the Labour Prime Ministers, Gordon Brown (32% in 2007) and Tony Blair (32% in 1997).

However, the proportion is lower than that for previous Cabinets under Conservative Prime Ministers, John Major (71% in 1992) and Margaret Thatcher (91% in 1979).

Originally Posted by Escapee

I have my suspicions about what may have been revealed but would not openly post them.

I am also wondering if we may get to the bottom of any companies that have handed over some dosh!

The panellists on HIGNFY seem to have a few suspicions as well.

I wonder what the Sunday papers will bring this week.

BBC are reporting that the people that paid his friend had defence interests. Did we know that already?

Strange - Gordon Brown's troubles lasted more than 11 days....

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Strange - Gordon Brown's troubles lasted more than 11 days....

Ah Political point scoring again.

Originally Posted by denphone

Ah Political point scoring again.

Sorry - was my statement factually incorrect?

[denphone]

Originally Posted by Hugh

Sorry - was my statement factually incorrect?

l did not say it was factually incorrect but do we need a character assassination on politicians whether they are Labour or Tory all the time.

Methinks your sensitivity is set to "extra-extra-sensitive" - I was commenting on the 11 day rule.

[Dai]

Originally Posted by denphone

..do we need a character assassination on politicians whether they are Labour or Tory..

They seem to manage this by themselves on a regular basis without any help from us.