‘Petty’ PM bans EU rebel Fox from top intelligence role
DAVID CAMERON banned former Defence Secretary Liam Fox from joining a high-powered Commons committee as ‘punishment’ for rebelling over the EU, it was claimed last night.
Allies of Dr Fox say he was told by Tory whips that his bid to join the Commons Intelligence and Security Committee was thrown out because of his role in a Conservative rebellion last week.
Dr Fox was one of 37 Tory MPs who helped to inflict a humiliating defeat on the Government over the way the referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU is conducted. They joined forces with Labour to stop the Prime Minister amending the so-called ‘purdah’ rules, which limit Government activity during the referendum campaign period.
It was Mr Cameron’s first defeat in the Commons since the Election.
Well-placed sources say that hours later Dr Fox was told that as a result he would not be allowed to join the Intelligence and Security Committee.
A Conservative insider said: ‘It was a petty and vindictive decision. Liam had every right to vote against the Government on the referendum. To punish him for doing so is outrageous. This kind of behaviour merely alienates backbenchers.
‘Liam is not the type to give in to intimidation. It shows how rattled the whips are over the referendum, but it will not stop the revolts. Quite the reverse.’
Leading Eurosceptic Dr Fox was among four Conservative MPs who applied for three places on the powerful all-party Intelligence and Security Committee. Unlike other Commons committees, where members are chosen by a ballot of MPs, places are in the gift of party leaders owing to the sensitivity of the work. Members are given access to state secrets as part of their job in monitoring MI5 and MI6.
Dr Fox had hoped to win a place and replace former Foreign Secretary Sir Malcolm Rifkind as chairman.
But Dr Fox lost out as former Overseas Aid Minister Sir Alan Duncan, former Law Minister Dominic Grieve and a former aide to William Hague, Keith Simpson, were nominated by Mr Cameron.
Friends of Dr Fox were quick to point out that none of the three men chosen had Cabinet experience.
The decision to ban Dr Fox is thought to have been backed by the Conservative chief whip, Mark Harper, who was furious at the EU revolt led by senior Conservative MP Bernard Jenkin.
Dr Fox and the Prime Minister have never been close politically or personally: they were rivals in the Tory leadership contest in 2005.
Dr Fox was unavailable for comment last night. Downing Street denied the claims.