William Hague today insisted that the alleged behaviour of Liam Fox and Adam Werritty was not “generic” across the Government but that the inquiry into their activities would be a springboard for an examination of the vexed issue of lobbying. Sir Gus O’Donnell, chief of the Civil Service, is due to publish on Tuesday his report into Dr Fox’s dealings with his close friend and self-styled adviser. Dr Fox resigned on Friday amid snowballing allegations concerning those links. It was “fanciful” to suggest that Dr Fox and Mr Werritty could have effectively been running a separate foreign policy, Mr Hague added, stating: “I make the foreign policy.” But he did admit that other ministers would have had contact with Mr Werritty, albeit “slight”. “I don’t think that the allegations that have been described in the press are generic across the Government,” the Foreign Secretary told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show. “The idea that it is possible to run a completely separate policy by one minister is a fanciful idea. The foreign policy of this country is set by me and the Prime Minister. “One adviser and one minister are not able to run a different policy from the rest of the Government and people can at least be reassured about that.” But he added: “It will be important to take stock after that report of where there are wider implications. “My own experience of dealing with Liam Fox on the question of Sri Lanka, for inst

Recognition from the Queen was the last thing on the minds of the citizens of Wootton Bassett on the day they first stood silently for a military cortege as a mark of their respect for two fallen serviceman. But today, after four and a half years and 167 processions, some 20,000 people were gathering to see the Wiltshire town become Royal Wootton Bassett in gratitude for its role in the repatriation of Britain’s war dead. In a ceremony this afternoon the Princess Royal is due to present the Letters Patent on behalf of the Queen, before a parade by representatives of the armed forces and, weather permitting, a flypast of aircraft including a Hercules. “The people of Wootton Bassett lined the streets in their thousands to show support and respect for our brave servicemen and women who tragically lost their lives in defence of our country,” said Philip Ham

The most senior official at the Department for Education is to quit, bringing to an end a difficult relationship with Michael Gove. Sir David Bell, Permanent Secretary at the ministry, is to leave Whitehall to become vice-chancellor of the University of Reading. A second official, Jon Coles, the department’s director general for education standards, is also leaving to run United Church Schools Trust, which operates a chain of private schools and academies. He chairs the expert group advising Mr Gove on the review of the national curriculum. Sir David’s departure, although expected, follows months of tension between civil servants at the department and Mr Gove, who has felt frustrated in his wish to drive through rapid and radical school reforms. Earlier this year it emerged that Mr Gove had sounded out whether Sir Michael Barber, an education adviser t