The politician who chairs the House of Commons’ committee on Standards has written a book about how MPs can regain public trust after a series of scandals – but undermined himself by speaking in support of the first MP to cause such a scandal after the Tories took office in 2010.
Here’s Chris Bryant, talking about his book Code of Conduct on the BBC’s Breakfast News today (August 8, 2023):
Chris Bryant, "Parliament is in trouble.. Nearly every day there is a scandal.. I care passionately about democracy.. I just don't think in an ordinary line of work if you miss coming in for over 6 months, like Nadine Dorries, that you'd still be paid." @RhonddaBryant pic.twitter.com/nCdwAZDT4n
— Farrukh (@implausibleblog) August 8, 2023
In the clip, he mentions Liam Fox, praising his work regarding Down’s Syndrome and saying people should focus on the good work done by people in Parliament.
But Dr Fox had to resign as Defence Secretary in October 2011 over his friendship with Adam Werritty. Here’s Wikipedia on what happened then:
Werritty made visits to Fox at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Whitehall on 22 occasions in 16 months; Werrity was not security-cleared with the MoD. Additionally, over a 17-month period, ending October 2011, Werritty was present at 40 of Fox’s 70 recorded engagements. The uncertain nature of Werritty’s relationship with Fox led to an investigation by senior civil servants, initially the MoD’s Permanent Secretary, Ursula Brennan and latterly the Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O’Donnell. Fox claimed that Werrity had never worked for him either in an official or unofficial capacity despite allegations that he was using a source of advice outside the Civil Service, paid for by private funds. Disclosure of increasing amounts of detail of their contact, funding and explanations of their relationship led to Fox’s resignation on 14 October 2011 in advance of O’Donnell’s report of his investigation.
So he fled from office in disgrace over allegations of impropriety. Any good work he has done since then cannot be used to disregard that.
But Bryant wants to give him a free pass.
It’s a highly surprising misstep that – sadly – calls into question his judgement and raises questions about the validity of any observations he makes in his book. Right?
Vox Political needs your help!
If you want to support this site
(but don’t want to give your money to advertisers)
you can make a one-off donation here:
Be among the first to know what’s going on! Here are the ways to manage it:
1) Register with us by clicking on ‘Subscribe’ (in the right margin). You can then receive notifications of every new article that is posted here.
2) Follow VP on Twitter @VoxPolitical
3) Like the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/VoxPolitical/
Join the Vox Political Facebook page.
4) You could even make Vox Political your homepage at http://voxpoliticalonline.com
5) Join the uPopulus group at https://upopulus.com/groups/vox-political/
6) Join the MeWe page at https://mewe.com/p-front/voxpolitical
7) Feel free to comment!
And do share with your family and friends – so they don’t miss out!
If you have appreciated this article, don’t forget to share it using the buttons at the bottom of this page. Politics is about everybody – so let’s try to get everybody involved!
Buy Vox Political books so we can continue
fighting for the facts.
The Livingstone Presumption is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
Health Warning: Government! is now available
in either print or eBook format here:
The first collection, Strong Words and Hard Times,
is still available in either print or eBook format here: