‘I now regret the choices I made in those difficult and dark times ... my apologies’

LAST week, I put on the record of the House a number of the allegations that have been made against me at the tribunals. Each and every one of these charges is baseless.

They are false and are no more than a tissue of lies. However, these allegations were made and the tribunal is required to investigate them, insofar as they fall within their terms of reference…

In order to assist the tribunal with its inquiries into some of the lurid allegations made against me, I gave all my bank and financial records to the tribunal… which show that I have not enriched myself through politics and have not abused public office. It is deeply regrettable that these confidential records appeared in a newspaper…