Adam Werritty

Adam Werritty (born 18 July 1978) is a Scottish businessman. Werritty is a friend of the former UK Secretary of State for Defence and ex Secretary of State for International Trade, Liam Fox. He lived for a period in 2002 and 2003 at Fox's London flat and was best man at his wedding in 2005. The two were also business associates who once held joint investments in the healthcare consultancy firm UK Health. Werritty was reportedly an adviser of Fox's and is known to have accompanied him on at least 18 foreign business trips between 2009 and 2011.[1][2][3] In 2007, when Fox was shadow Defence Secretary, they both attended a meeting with the Gulf Research Centre.[4][5] Werritty was also appointed by Fox as the chief executive of the now disbanded conservative Atlanticist think-tank, "The Atlantic Bridge".

Werritty made visits to Fox at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Whitehall on 22 occasions in 16 months; Werrity was not security-cleared with the MoD. Additionally, over a 17-month period, ending October 2011, Werritty was present at 40 of Fox's 70 recorded engagements. The uncertain nature of Werritty's relationship with Fox led to an investigation by senior civil servants, initially the MoD's Permanent Secretary, Ursula Brennan and latterly the Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell.[6][7] Fox claimed that Werrity had never worked for him either in an official or unofficial capacity despite allegations that he was using a source of advice outside the Civil Service, paid for by private funds.[8][9] Disclosure of increasing amounts of detail of their contact, funding and explanations of their relationship led to Fox's resignation on 14 October 2011 in advance of O'Donnell's report of his investigation.

  1. ^ Wealthy donors 'paid for Werritty to advise Liam Fox' BBC News, 12 October 2011, BBC.
  2. ^ Liam Fox adviser may have to face Whitehall officials again Nick Hopkins, The Guardian, Wednesday 12 October 2011, Guardian News and Media Limited
  3. ^ "'Adviser' Adam Werritty joined Liam Fox at talks on Iran sanctions" Kim Sengupta and Oliver Wright, The Independent, Wednesday 12 October 2011,
  4. ^ "Liam Fox faces questions for allowing former flatmate access to MoD" Rupert Neate, The Guardian, Tuesday 4 October 2011, Guardian News and Media Limited
  5. ^ "'Adviser' Andrew Werritty ran charity from Liam Fox's office", Rupert Neate, Robert Booth, Rajeev Syal and Simon Bowers, The Guardian, Friday 7 October 2011, Guardian News and Media Limited
  6. ^ Watt, Holly (31 May 2011). "Liam Fox under increasing pressure over 'adviser' Adam Werritty". London: The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 9 October 2011.
  7. ^ Nick Robinson (14 October 2011). "BBC News - Liam Fox friend 'funded by private intelligence firm'". Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 15 November 2011.
  8. ^ Liam Fox friend 'funded by private intelligence firm' BBC News, 14 October 2011, BBC.
  9. ^ "BBC News - Liam Fox quits as defence secretary". Bbc.co.uk. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 15 November 2011.