Cameron defends inquiry into Warsi, but not Hunt

PRIME Minister David Cameron was under pressure yesterday to explain why he had treated two of his Cabinet ministers differently after he initiated an investigation against Tory party co-chairman Baroness Warsi.

Lady Warsi is facing an inquiry over claims that she breached the ministerial code when she was accompanied by business partner Abid Hussain on an official visit to Pakistan.

Mr Cameron rallied to her defence, but said an investigation “will pick up any loose ends”.

However, Mr Cameron was asked to explain why he had asked for an inquiry into Lady Warsi, but not Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt over his handling of News Corporation’s bid to take over satellite broadcaster BSkyB.

The Prime Minister defended his decision not to order an investigation by Sir Alex Allan, his independent adviser on ministerial interests, into whether Mr Hunt broke the rules too.

Mr Cameron said: “They were two very different cases. In the case of Jeremy Hunt, obviously all of that has been gone through by the Leveson Inquiry. She [Baroness Warsi] has apologised for the mistake she has made but I think it right for Sir Alex Allan just to see if there are any loose ends that need to be picked up.”