Liam Fox today praised David Cameron's leadership. But don't get too excited. It was carefully crafted – the defence secretary commended the prime minister's leadership of the coalition, not the Conservatives.
Speaking at a press gallery lunch – his first in 17 years in Parliament – Fox stated: "I do not think I would have the skill to deal with the complexity and personalities [of the coalition] with the same sensitivity."
"The coalition needs to exist because there is an economic emergency," he said.
The defence secretary also launched a stinging attack on the legacy of New Labour.
"One of the best things [about being in government] was seeing the back of New Labour," he stated, comparing the ideology to a "celebrity cult".
Fox was asked what his GP friends thought of the government's NHS reforms. "They would greatly prefer a system here they are more empowered," he responded.
He also ruled out appearing on Have I Got News For You, despite his defence predecessor Bob Ainsworth taking up the invitation.
And Fox, who gave up alcohol for Lent, denied any regret about going to the pub during the Libya crisis, saying that it was his last pint before he stopped drinking.
"Given that it was, until last night, the last pint of beer I had, I don’t think it was entirely unreasonable."
He added: "That's a bit like asking Churchill if he regrets having a drink during World War Two."
A bit like that, Liam… but not a lot.
UPDATE: Labour has just sent a press release from Michael Dugher, the shadow defence minister, about Fox comparing himself to Winston Churchill. Dugher said: “Liam Fox is no Winston Churchill. Rather than comparing himself to someone who many rightly regard as the greatest Briton in history, Fox has to explain his admission today that defence capabilities have been cut by this government and that the SDSR was a spending review not a proper defence review. That admission is a complete u-turn from what he and David Cameron said last October.”
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