'Wild gossip' about Fox dismissed

Liam Fox has said he will "carry on doing the job I'm meant to do", as a colleague dismissed "wild gossip" about the defence secretary.The row about the role of his friend and self-styled adviser Adam Werritty continues to dominate headlines.BBC political editor Nick Robinson says Mr Fox believes he is the victim of a hate campaign.Employment Minister Chris Grayling told the BBC there was a "mass pursuit" of Mr Fox, who was doing a "good job".Mr Fox has been under pressure over the past week after revelations about his friendship with lobbyist Mr Werritty, who was present on 18 overseas trips and met the defence secretary at the MoD 22 times.Asked about his position on his way to Paris to meet his French counterpart on Wednesday, he said: "I shall carry on doing the job I'm meant to do - the job I'm paid for."The defence secretary has also denied claims that Conservative officials lied about a break-in at his London home last year, following claims in the Sun that they had said Mr Fox was alone at the time - when in fact another man stayed in the flat overnight.Mr Fox said he told police a friend was staying in the guest room, and added that it was not Mr Werritty.Responding to the Sun's front page, Mr Fox said: "As I told the police at the time, a friend was staying in the guest room."My wife was stranded in Hong Kong due to the ash cloud. For the sake of clarity it was not Adam Werritty."I was a victim of a violent crime, and I'm appalled at being portrayed as having something to hide. We are trying to establish why the media were given the impression I was alone."The burglary at the defence secretary's London flat coincided with the general election campaign.Mr Fox has been accused of breaching ministerial guidelines in relation to his friendship with Mr Werritty, who was best man at his wedding and is his former flatmate.On Tuesday Mr Werritty was questioned by civil servants, who were expected to ask him why he had joined Mr Fox on 18 overseas trips despite having no official role. He also carried business cards describing him as an adviser to Mr Fox.Our political editor says he understands that Mr Fox viewed Mr Werritty as a kind of unofficial adviser, but categorically denied to officials that he was in any sort of relationship with him.He also understands that Mr Werritty was not paid by defence companies for specific pieces of information or arranging meetings - but was paid an annual retainer by a group of private clients for strategic and political advice.Mr Fox's press conference in Paris will not go ahead - nor will a planned keel-laying ceremony in Barrow on Thursday, blamed on "logistical" reasons. The prime minister's spokesman said the Paris event was never confirmed.Prime Minister David Cameron is expected to face questions about the conduct of his defence secretary at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions in the House of Commons on Wednesday.Asked about rumours that the defence secretary is gay - described by Mr Fox himself as "smears" in a 2005 interview - Mr Grayling, who ran Mr Fox's failed Conservative leadership campaign in 2005, told the BBC: "If you look around the Westminster village you will find all kinds of wild gossip about all kinds of individuals in all parties. That doesn't mean they are not good at their jobs."I've known Liam for many years, I've known Liam and his wife, they've always struck me as being a very happily married couple. The reality is that the gossip is certainly circulating."I thought we had got past the point in politics though where we needed to worry about people's private lives. What really matters is, is someone doing an important capable job."There may be gossip, innuendo and tittle-tattle around but the fact is Liam is a very good defence secretary doing a very good job."He added: "I've not seen anything emerge in any of this that would give me rise to believe that Liam has done anything substantially wrong or would call his position into question."Shadow defence minister Kevan Jones said the prime minister was afraid to act.He said: "This is becoming a judgement on the prime minister's judgement, and in terms of the lectures he's given us about new politics and ethics, I'm sorry, Mr Fox's activities are looking rather shabby."A Whitehall inquiry has already been ordered into Mr Fox's links with Mr Werritty.Number 10 has said serious mistakes were made and asked an internal inquiry to address "all remaining questions".Mr Cameron is understood to have discussed the findings of an interim report on the inquiry with Mr Fox, but is not expected to make a final decision on his future until he sees the full report, which is due on 21 October.