It isn’t over. That’s the abiding impression after reading Gus O’Donnell’s report into the Liam Fox farrago. I mean, the outgoing Cabinet Secretary
basically admits as much in the opening paragraph of the document: “more allegations about Dr Fox’s conduct have arisen,” it observes, “many of which will be the responsibility of
others to answer, including the Electoral Commission which regulates political parties and their funding.” It goes on to clarify that, “This report looks into allegations relating to
potential breaches of the Ministerial Code”. In other words, this investigation was specific, not far-reaching — and it shows.
So what does O’Donnell actually conclude? As expected, he does kick Fox in his post-ministerial shins for breaching the Ministerial Code. But, so far as this report is concerned, the breaches are all more technical than malicious. For instance, there were two overseas between the former Defence Secretary, Werritty and others at which “a member of [Fox’s] private office should have been present because of the likelihood that government business would be discussed.”
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