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12 October 2011
Last updated at 00:07 ET
Defence Secretary Liam Fox has denied claims Conservative officials lied about a break-in at his home last year.
The Sun says it was a cover-up as he was said to have been alone at the time when in fact a man stayed overnight.
Mr Fox, who is under pressure over his friendship with lobbyist Adam Werritty, says he was appalled at being portrayed as someone who had something to hide.
He insists he told police a friend was staying in the guest room and added for "clarity" 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.
'Rather shabby' "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.
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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.
The latest allegations will put more pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron, who will face questions in the Commons later over the conduct of his defence secretary.
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.
Mr Fox has faced innuendo about his private life before.
In 2005, just before his wedding, people had suggested he was either gay or a playboy because he was not married.
Mr Fox refused to respond to what he called "smears" and said he thought everyone was entitled to a private life.
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The Sun says it was a cover-up as he was said to have been alone at the time when in fact a man stayed overnight.
Mr Fox, who is under pressure over his friendship with lobbyist Adam Werritty, says he was appalled at being portrayed as someone who had something to hide.
He insists he told police a friend was staying in the guest room and added for "clarity" 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.
'Rather shabby' "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.
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
This is becoming a judgement on the prime minister's judgement”
End Quote
Kevan Jones
Shadow defence minister
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.
The latest allegations will put more pressure on Prime Minister David Cameron, who will face questions in the Commons later over the conduct of his defence secretary.
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.
Mr Fox has faced innuendo about his private life before.
In 2005, just before his wedding, people had suggested he was either gay or a playboy because he was not married.
Mr Fox refused to respond to what he called "smears" and said he thought everyone was entitled to a private life.
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