Digby Jones hits back as politicians attack

Apr 19 2008 By Neil Connor, Chief Reporter

Lord Digby Jones of Birmingham angrily hit out at his critics as he claimed he was the victim of a smear campaign orchestrated by politicians who have a vendetta against him. 

Lord Jones has been at the centre of controversy this week following reports that he plans to quit the Government because he does not want to back Gordon Brown in a General Election.

Khalid Mahmood, the Labour MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said Lord Jones’ position was “not right morally” and claimed he should also give up his seat in the House of Lords.

But Lord Jones, the former secretary general of the CBI and Birmingham-based lawyer, told The Post he had said “a hundred times” that he would only be a minister for a “finite period”. 

He claimed the private meeting at which he made comments about leaving the Government was held in January and that the story was “old news”.

Lord Jones, who was at Birmingham’s Millennium Point speaking to students who study at the museum and educational complex, was given a peerage last year so he could join Mr Brown’s Government as a Trade Minister. 

He said: "The Prime Minister and I agreed that I would do the job for a finite period and then leave. I think it is important that the job is above party politics. 

“I am 100 per cent behind the Prime Minister and I am very loyal to him. I do not ask for thanks when I do this job. I want to do it for my country.

“Because I am a different type of minister than most, I am viewed as suspect by some people, whether they be left wing Labour MPs or disgruntled peers who want my title.”

Lord Jones said after the meeting on January 29 he did not feel that he had said something that he shouldn’t have.

He added: “I had a chat with the Prime Minister on the morning that the story broke. He phoned me and said: ‘Are you OK?’ I said: ‘fine’, and then he said: “Just continue doing the job.’”

Lord Jones received backing from Tory leader David Cameron who was in Solihull to meet Conservative local election candidates. 

“As for Digby Jones, I am very grateful that he is there because I feel that we have long needed a Trade Minister and I think he does a good job," said Mr Cameron.  “I do not know what Digby’s politics are. He was a very successful CBI chief and he could be a very good Trade Minister. But it does not look great for a Prime Minister if your ministers do not stand up for you."