British Defence Minister Liam Fox resigns
British defence minister Liam Fox resigned on Friday, forced out over
his close working relationship with a friend who posed as his advisor
despite having no official government role.
In his resignation letter to Prime Minister David Cameron, the
Conservative lawmaker admitted he had allowed the distinction between
his personal and government activities to be blurred through his work
with Adam Werritty.
"I mistakenly allowed the distinction between my personal interest
and my government activities to become blurred. The consequences of this
have become clearer in recent days. I am very sorry for this," Fox
wrote.
In his letter of response, published by Downing Street, Cameron said
he understood why Fox was leaving but was "very sorry to see you go" and
praised his achievements in 17 months as defence secretary.
"I understand your reasons for deciding to resign as defence
secretary, although I am very sorry to see you go," the prime minister
wrote, adding that he hoped Fox and his wife Jesme would remain his
"good friends".
In his letter of resignation, which comes after days of allegations
about his relationship with Werritty, Fox said: "I have also repeatedly
said that the national interest must always come before personal
interest.
"I now have to hold myself to my own standard.
"I have therefore decided, with great sadness, to resign from my post
as secretary of state for defence, a position which I have been
immensely proud and honoured to have held."
Fox's departure leaves a vacancy at the top of the Ministry of
Defence at a crucial time, when British forces are still deployed on a
NATO mission in Libya and continue their ten-year operation in
Afghanistan.
The minister also had the job of pushing through eight percent cuts
to the armed forces budget as part of a government-wide austerity drive,
which saw him confront military chiefs over what he described as years
of mismanagement.
"I am particularly proud to have overseen the long overdue reforms to
the Ministry of Defence and to our armed forces," Fox said.
"I am proud also to have played a part in helping to liberate the
people of Libya, and I regret that I will not see through to its
conclusion Britain's role in Afghanistan, where so much progress has
been made."
Fox is the second member of Cameron's coalition government to resign
since it took office in May 2010, the first, Liberal Democrat minister
David Laws, was forced to stand down within weeks of the election over
an expenses scandal.
Cameron said Fox had done a "superb job", saying: "You can be proud
of the difference you have made in your time in office, and in helping
our party to return to government."AFP |