MoD: Leaks the work of just 'one or two people' says Liam Fox

Defence Secretary Liam Fox has hit out at the "culture of leaks" in his department, insisting it is an issue he is trying to tackle.

Under pressure after David Cameron criticised the Ministry of Defence's "problem" with leaks, Dr Fox suggested it was down to just "one or two people".

He added that the Prime Minister's rebuke to the department was mild compared with his own and claimed it was an issue the coalition inherited from the former Labour government.

"If the Prime Minister thought he was rebuking the department then he was in the amateur stakes, let me tell you on that one, because I was rebuking them much more over the culture of leaks that we seem to have inherited," he said.

"I think it's very important that people feel that they can discuss issues within departments.

"It's very easy to get, in a very big department, one or two people who pass things out.

"I think it's unprofessional and I think it's very unfair to their colleagues who then are unable to discuss things in a free way. I hope it's a culture we are able to change over time."

Mr Cameron told MPs that it was "worrying" that confidential MoD documents had found their way into national newspapers.

He said the leak of a private letter from Dr Fox in September, in which he warned of the impact of proposed cuts in the MoD's budget, had "added to the pressure" ahead of last month's Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Dr Fox has denied leaking the letter, and launched an official hunt to find the source.