Watchdog condemns Blunkett probe

Mr Blunkett denies the visa allegation

The inquiry into claims David Blunkett abused his position as Home Secretary has been condemned as it got under way.

Mr Blunkett denies allegations he fast-tracked a visa application for ex-lover Kimberly Quinn's former nanny.

He also faces five further 'abuse of position' claims which will not be covered by the independent review.

Standards watchdog Sir Alistair Graham criticised the 'ad-hoc' way the review was arranged and suggested there be an inquiry into the other allegations.

Blair 'wrong'

Sir Alistair, chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, also said Tony Blair was wrong to publicly back his home secretary.

The prime minister used his monthly press briefing to say he had 'every confidence' in Mr Blunkett and defended his right to a private life.

There will now be many unanswered questions hanging over the home secretary's head David Davis

But Sir Alistair told BBC2's Newsnight: "What the Prime Minister has to remember is that he is the final arbiter, the final person who will decide, having seen the results of the inquiry, what action is appropriate.

"My advice would be that he should remember the fundamental role he has in dealing with breaches, potential breaches, of the (Ministerial) Code of Conduct."

Sir Alistair said a second inquiry could be conducted by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner Sir Philip Mawer.

'Unanswered questions'

Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said a judge should be leading the review, which he said did not go far enough.

He said: "The terms of the inquiry are narrowly defined and will answer just one question, not the many.

Mr Blunkett pictured with Mrs Quinn at a function last year

"All of this could have been resolved quickly but there will now be many unanswered questions hanging over the home secretary's head."

Mr Blunkett had requested an independent review into claims he fast-tracked a visa application for permanent residency by Leoncia Casalme, who left Mrs Quinn's employment two months ago.

He is said to have checked the application was filled in correctly but not intervened to get it approved.

Six allegations

Former Treasury civil servant Sir Alan Budd was appointed to lead the investigation on Monday.

The visa claim was among six allegations made in the Sunday Telegraph newspaper.

It said Mr Blunkett, 57, shared confidential security information with Mrs Quinn, publisher of the Spectator magazine.

This included telling her parents to avoid Newark Airport near New York hours before a security scare.

Other claims include that Mr Blunkett gave Mrs Quinn, 43, a first-class train ticket which had been assigned to him.

'Deeply personal'

It is also alleged that Mr Blunkett took her to Spain accompanied by bodyguards at taxpayers' expense.

Another claim is that he ordered his government chauffeur to drive Mrs Quinn between London and his Derbyshire home.

Requesting the inquiry, Mr Blunkett said he regretted the time and resources being used but they were necessary to lay the accusation to rest.

Of the other allegations, Mr Blunkett's spokesman said information about the New York security scare was already in the public domain.

'Nonsense'

The home secretary confirmed giving Mrs Quinn the train ticket, saying he believed he was entitled to claim for a partner's travel, but offered to refund the money if necessary.

And he said his bodyguards were already in Spain as part of his normal protection.

Mr Blunkett said Mrs Quinn had only been given lifts on trips his chauffeur was already scheduled to make on government business.

He also dismissed as "nonsense" claims that he had asked for a policeman to be posted outside Mrs Quinn's central London home during a May Day riot.