Tories come out against Blunkett

Visa issue a resigning matter says Davis

Visa issue a resigning matter says Davis

David Blunkett “must” resign if he is found to have abused his power in relation to the visa application of his ex-lover’s nanny, Shadow Home Secretary David Davis today signaled .

Mr Davis, speaking on BBC One’s Breakfast with Frost, admitted that it was “too early” to say whether Mr Blunkett was guilty of the claims.

But asked whether the visa issue was a resigning one, Mr Davis said he thought it was.

Sir Alan Budd’s inquiry into allegations the Home Secretary tried to speed up the application of Kimberly Quinn’s nanny, Leoncia Casalme, is set to report next week.

But Mr Davis questioned the authority under which Sir Alan will investigate the claims.

“Alan Budd cannot answer the questions we want to see answered”, he said.

The remit of the inquiry, Mr Davis argued, does not extend to cover crucial questions such as whether Mr Blunkett misused his civil servants.

He added: “The simple truth is there are police officers and prison officers who all effectively work for David Blunkett who if they had have done something like that would be suspended and would have to face some sort of charge.”

If the Home Secretary is found to have abused his power then he must resign, Mr Davis said.

But Health Secretary Dr John Reid urged opposition politicians and the public to pull their punches and await the outcome of the Budd inquiry before passing judgement.

Dr Reid said Sir Alan Budd would establish whether there has been an “impropriety”, but admitted that the inquiry would unfold against a background of preemptive speculation.

He criticised those who were originally satisfied with the remit of the inquiry for changing their minds as they now believe the inquiry will not reach the decision they wanted it to.

Dr Reid also insisted the Home Secretary was perfectly capable of carrying out his role whilst pursuing a paternity suit, dubbing him as a man of “tremendous energy, determination and application”.

Mr Blunkett has categorically denied intervening in the visa application in any way or putting pressure on officials to process it more quickly.