In the firing line

The Defence Secretary’s admission before the House yesterday that he has met with his friend Adam Werritty some 40 times since coming to office will raise further eyebrows over his conduct.

Sixteen of these meetings took place abroad – despite his department having spent months insisting Mr Werritty was never taken on any official trip. With each passing day, it seems, Dr Fox is forced to change his position a little more. And as ever, it is the impression of deception which can prove most damaging.

Labour, of course, are revelling in the Minister’s misery. His opposite number, Jim Murphy, has repeatedly stressed the “self-inflicted” nature of the crisis now enveloping Dr Fox. This is not mere schadenfreude on Mr Murphy’s part.

Labour wants to paint this not just as a possible technical breach of the Ministerial code, but as an indication of terminally poor judgement.

For any cabinet minister, this is a damning charge to overcome. For one in charge of the nation’s armed forces, it becomes particularly dangerous. Nonetheless, Dr Fox will have found some solace yesterday in the support he received from his backbenches.

The Prime Minister, too, remains on side thus far. If the revelations continue to come, however, the Minister will quickly find those friends begin to disappear. It is then that the writing will be clearly on the wall.