Watchdog call over 'Cheriegate' issues

Reports says Mr Foster will leave the UK

A new watchdog into public standards may be needed to rule on cases such as the "Cheriegate" saga over the prime minister's wife's links with convicted fraudster Peter Foster, an MP has said.

Senior Labour MP Clive Soley, a campaigner on privacy issues, added that there was a need to "beef up" the Press Complaints Commission.

The MP for Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush told Sky News' Sunday with Adam Boulton programme: "One of the things we need to address in the future is whether we don't need some public standards body to refer cases like this to, but also a beefed up, independent - and I stress independent - Press Complaints Commission."

Mr Soley has been critical of the way the affair - which began with the revelation that Mrs Blair had been assisted by Mr Foster in her purchase of two Bristol flats - has been reported in the press.

Asked if believed the story had now died away - with the press having had what the prime minister called "their pound of flesh", Mr Soley said: "No, I don't think it has, I think it will come back to it, although I think the main guts of it have gone out."

Details

He said he believed that while Mr Foster has said his story is not for sale, he believed that "somebody did" pay Mr Foster at some point during the affair.

Cherie Blair has denied any involvement in Mr Foster's deportation case

The News of the World confirmed on Sunday it had offered to pay the Australian for his story.

In a statement the newspaper said: "We wanted to publish the full details and true account of all his dealings with the Prime Minster, Cherie Blair, Carole Caplin and Number 10 Downing Street.

"There are many unanswered questions which we believe are of great public interest.

"On Saturday we were advised that Downing Street had convinced Mr Foster he had nothing of worth to say at this stage."

A Downing Street spokesman said: "We have not been in communication with Mr Foster."

Price

On Friday transcripts of what were said to be Mr Foster's telephone calls with his mother and brother suggested that another newspaper had offered him £100,000 - to be paid to charity - for his story.

A media agency for Mr Foster has said that he will make a public statement on Monday.

On Saturday he said his story was not for sale "at any price".

Mr Soley accepted that Mrs Blair had handled the situation poorly, saying: "It is true that once Cherie Blair tried to cover up, it was a disastrous mistake, and the whole thing span out of control."

Reports on Sunday suggested Mr Foster may quit the UK for Australia - taking his partner, Mrs Blair's advisor Carole Caplin, with him.

According to the Sunday Mirror, Mr Foster - who is facing deportation proceedings - will use his statement on Monday to say he plans to leave the UK for Queensland before Christmas.

Refused

The paper says Ms Caplin will follow him in the New Year.

The report also says that Mr Foster will say it was him rather than his legal team who faxed details of his deportation case to Mrs Blair's flat in Downing Street on 22 November.

He will add, according to the paper, that he spoke to the prime minister's wife by telephone after the fax was received and that they discussed his case.

Ms Caplin has said that Mrs Blair refused to read the documents and did not speak to Mr Foster about them.

In the Mail on Sunday, it is suggested that Mr Foster's conversations may have been recorded by his mother.

In alleged transcripts of the conversations published on Saturday, Mr Foster warned Tony and Cherie Blair of "bullets" still to come if he tells his side of his dealings with the prime minister's wife.