A British minister faced an inquiry on Monday into claims he abused his position to speed a visa for his lover’s Filipina nanny in an embarrassing case for Tony Blair’s government months before an expected election.
Home Secretary David Blunkett — one of the prime minister’s most trusted allies and the leader of his fight against terrorism — announced an independent probe to clear his name after a political storm erupted over the weekend.
Media accused him of fast-tracking the visa for U.S.-born publisher Kimberly Quinn’s nanny, among other favors.
But Blunkett, a 57-year-old divorcee who is Britain’s most high-profile blind person, says he merely checked the immigration papers to ensure they were in order.
Blunkett is widely reported to have had a 3-year affair with Quinn, who is married, until earlier this year.
Blair stood by Blunkett, saying he was entitled to his private life and that the probe would clear him of abusing office: “I have no doubt at all that he will be exonerated. ... He has been, is, will continue to be, a first-class home secretary,” he told reporters at his monthly news conference.
Blair, who has himself been dogged by trust issues over the case for war in Iraq, has also said his guiding principle in judging his ministers was their public performance.
“Politicians are entitled to private lives,” he said. “If there is a situation in which there is a crossover (between private and public lives) and there has been something improper, that’s another matter, but I don’t think that has happened.”
