10/09/2010
Minister Defends Private Detective Use
A Justice Minister has defended hiring private detectives to investigate his colleagues.
Jonathan Djanogly, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, said that he had done so because he was upset about "malicious" allegations made about his private life in the press during the expenses scandal last year, but has admitted that he may have over-reacted.
His comments came after the Daily Telegraph received a copy of the report prepared for Mr Djanogly by Morris Chase International last year, when he was Shadow Solicitor General.
The Telegraph said that the report showed that Mr Djanogly had asked the firm to carry out "discreet inquiries under the pretext of writing a newspaper article" in order to discover who was behind a series of newspaper allegations which the MP claimed were untrue.
The firm said that all the information in the report had been obtained legally.
Mr Djanogly said that he had hired the firm because he was "extremely upset" about the allegations, but admitted that he may have over-reacted. He also stressed that he would "never have contemplated condoning anything unlawful or dishonest".
A spokesperson for Prime Minister David Cameron said that Mr Djanogly still had his full confidence, saying that the Prime Minister would judge hime on his performance as a minister.
Derek Holley, a former Conservative council leader of Huntingdonshire District Council and one of those targeted by the investigation, told the BBC that he was "very angry" about the revelations and said that Mr Djanogly should consider his position in the government.
(KMcA/BMcC)
Jonathan Djanogly, Conservative MP for Huntingdon, said that he had done so because he was upset about "malicious" allegations made about his private life in the press during the expenses scandal last year, but has admitted that he may have over-reacted.
His comments came after the Daily Telegraph received a copy of the report prepared for Mr Djanogly by Morris Chase International last year, when he was Shadow Solicitor General.
The Telegraph said that the report showed that Mr Djanogly had asked the firm to carry out "discreet inquiries under the pretext of writing a newspaper article" in order to discover who was behind a series of newspaper allegations which the MP claimed were untrue.
The firm said that all the information in the report had been obtained legally.
Mr Djanogly said that he had hired the firm because he was "extremely upset" about the allegations, but admitted that he may have over-reacted. He also stressed that he would "never have contemplated condoning anything unlawful or dishonest".
A spokesperson for Prime Minister David Cameron said that Mr Djanogly still had his full confidence, saying that the Prime Minister would judge hime on his performance as a minister.
Derek Holley, a former Conservative council leader of Huntingdonshire District Council and one of those targeted by the investigation, told the BBC that he was "very angry" about the revelations and said that Mr Djanogly should consider his position in the government.
(KMcA/BMcC)
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09 September 2011
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In an attempt to rid the county of 'compensation culture' the government intends to ban referral fees in personal injury claims. Ministers said too many 'middle men' were pushing up the costs for ordinary claimants and insurance policyholders by taking fees for individual cases.
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15 September 2014
Retail Chain Phones 4U Placed In Administration
All 550 shops in the Phones 4U retail chain have closed, after the company was placed in administration. Owners, BC Partners, a private equity firm, announced that the business had been placed in administration and that all the UK's 550 would remained closed.
Retail Chain Phones 4U Placed In Administration
All 550 shops in the Phones 4U retail chain have closed, after the company was placed in administration. Owners, BC Partners, a private equity firm, announced that the business had been placed in administration and that all the UK's 550 would remained closed.
15 August 2014
Numbers Swell At Lancashire Anti-Fracking Protest Camp
A protest camp has been established in a field near a proposed drilling site in Lancashire. Around 100 members of Reclaim the Power have joined a group of local women who established the anti-fracking camp in Little Plumpton, near Blackpool last week.
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A protest camp has been established in a field near a proposed drilling site in Lancashire. Around 100 members of Reclaim the Power have joined a group of local women who established the anti-fracking camp in Little Plumpton, near Blackpool last week.
30 April 2008
Man Held After Office Siege
A man - thought to be a delivery driver - has been arrested by police after an armed siege at an office in Hertfordshire. While all the hostages involved have now been released, the police have said that four people were held for more than three hours from around 10.15 this morning. The siege ended at around 1.
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A man - thought to be a delivery driver - has been arrested by police after an armed siege at an office in Hertfordshire. While all the hostages involved have now been released, the police have said that four people were held for more than three hours from around 10.15 this morning. The siege ended at around 1.
03 April 2008
Brickies Banned From Wolf-Whistling
Bristol brickies have been banned from wolf-whistling at women. Leading building firm George Wimpey Bristol has outlawed the custom of builders whistling their appreciation of women walking below the scaffolding, for fear of putting off "savvy and sophisticated" buyers visiting sites.
Brickies Banned From Wolf-Whistling
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Northern Ireland WeatherToday:A sunny but frosty start for many. However cloud increases by midday with a few showers reaching the north coast, these mostly light but spreading inland this afternoon. Chilly. Maximum temperature 8 °C.Tonight:A rather cloudy evening with scattered showers. Becoming drier through the night with some good clear spells developing and a patchy frost away from coasts. Minimum temperature 0 °C.
