Blair calls time on Cherie row

Foster's solicitor says Mrs Blair behaved properly

Tony Blair has urged the media to move on from the furore surrounding his wife over her links with a convicted fraudster.

The prime minister tried to draw a line under the drawn-out Peter Foster affair as he arrived at the European summit in Copenhagen.

He said everyone had taken their "pound of flesh" and challenged anyone who believed they had real evidence of wrong-doing to take it to the authorities.

Everyone's had their pound of flesh and now it's time to move on

Tony Blair

The comments came as Mr Foster's solicitor insisted his firm had received no advice from Mrs Blair in his client's deportation case.

Solicitor David Janes spoke out after the Scotsman newspaper claimed Mrs Blair had been closely involved in the case or Mr Foster, boyfriend to her confidante Carole Caplin.

Apologising to other leaders that he had to field more questions, Mr Blair said in Denmark: "I think everyone's had their pound of flesh and now it's time to move on."

Evidence challenge

The prime minister said all questions had been answered over the last two weeks and he wanted to focus on the "things that are really important to people".

He challenged his critics: "If anyone has any evidence at all - I mean real evidence - of anything criminal, illegal or improper, they should give that evidence to the appropriate authorities."

Caplin: "Appalled" by the way Cherie's help was interpreted

It has emerged that Mr Foster sent a video message to Tony Blair three years ago as part of his unsuccessful legal battle to fight extradition to Britain on fraud charges.

The message, obtained by Channel 4 News in Australia, was recorded in 1999 in a Brisbane prison and hand delivered to Downing Street, but there is no suggestion it was seen by the Blairs.

Earlier on Thursday, Ms Caplin said legal documents on the Foster case had been faxed to her when she was in Mrs Blair's private flat in Downing Street - but the prime minister's wife refused to read them.

Appearing to back up Downing Street's version of events, Mr Janes said his firm had "not knowingly" given Mrs Blair any papers.

His firm had "never sought, nor been given any advice, assistance or influence whatsoever" by Mrs Blair, added Mr Janes.

David Janes' statement
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Downing Street said there had been a "shed load" of allegations but nothing illegal or improper had been shown.

Tony Blair's official spokesman branded the Scotsman story as merely "inaccuracies presented as fact".

He added: "We are not going to dance to the tune of Peter Foster, a convicted fraudster.

"The public has moved on even if you [the media] haven't."

The story continues to generate press publicity

The spokesman said Mrs Blair had not read any papers on the Foster case, nor had she made comments about the judge, who she did not know.

That has not stopped Conservative leader Iain Duncan Smith from calling for an independent inquiry.

He said the furore threatened to overshadow the Copenhagen summit on EU enlargement.

Latest allegations explained
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A retired High Court judge suggested the Foster affair raised serious questions about Mrs Blair's judgement which could hamper her career.

Sir Michael Davies told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "You have got to be very careful before you become a judge that you don't give hostages to fortune."

The Scotsman said Mrs Blair had asked to be shown details of the case being made against Mr Foster, citing "legal sources", although Mr Janes said no information had come from his firm.