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Remove 'crook' Al Fayed, says MP Remove 'crook' Al Fayed, says MP
(about 1 hour later)
An MP has called for Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed to be deported, calling him a "thief, a crook and liar" during a Commons debate. A Tory MP has called for Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed to be deported, calling him a "thief, a crook and liar" in a Commons debate.
Tory MP Gerald Howarth asked if the Egyptian tycoon could be removed, saying he had caused "great distress" by making "absurd allegations". Tory MP Gerald Howarth accused the Egyptian tycoon of causing "great distress" and of "absurd allegations".
It follows the end of a six-month, £2.8m inquest into the deaths of Mr Al Fayed's son Dodi and Princess Diana.It follows the end of a six-month, £2.8m inquest into the deaths of Mr Al Fayed's son Dodi and Princess Diana.
Immigration minister Liam Byrne said he did not discuss individual cases. Mr Al Fayed's spokeswoman said it was "cowardly" to "abuse parliamentary privilege" by insulting an individual.
MPs cannot be sued for libel for any statement they make in Parliament.
At Home Office questions in the Commons on Monday, Conservative MP Mr Howarth noted the speed with which Mr Al Fayed's last application for citizenship had been refused.At Home Office questions in the Commons on Monday, Conservative MP Mr Howarth noted the speed with which Mr Al Fayed's last application for citizenship had been refused.
'Swift action''Swift action'
He added: "Given the great distress caused by Fayed's absurd allegations and his burden on the public purse, will the home secretary now take swift action to remove for good, as an undesirable alien, this thief, crook and liar."He added: "Given the great distress caused by Fayed's absurd allegations and his burden on the public purse, will the home secretary now take swift action to remove for good, as an undesirable alien, this thief, crook and liar."
Mr Byrne replied: "I have made it my policy not to discuss individual cases on the floor of the House, but suffice to say the comments are on the record." Immigration minister Liam Byrne replied: "I have made it my policy not to discuss individual cases on the floor of the House, but suffice to say the comments are on the record."
Howarth should remember that Mohamed al Fayed employs 10,000 people in the UK, pays hundreds of millions of pounds in taxes every year and has contributed to billions of pounds of export business for the last 40 years Mohamed Al Fayed's spokeswoman
Later Mr Al Fayed's spokeswoman Katharine Witty accused Mr Howarth of waging "a war" against him.
"It is cowardly for an MP to abuse parliamentary privilege to insult an individual," she said.
She said Mr Howarth had "waged a war against Mohamed al Fayed for years" and would not repeat his remarks to his face "because he knows he will be sued for libel".
"As to his claims, Howarth should remember that Mohamed al Fayed employs 10,000 people in the UK, pays hundreds of millions of pounds in taxes every year and has contributed to billions of pounds of export business for the last 40 years," she said.
"This matter is in the hands of Mohamed al Fayed's lawyers."
Earlier this month the inquest ruled Dodi and Princess Diana were unlawfully killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997 - due to the actions of driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi.Earlier this month the inquest ruled Dodi and Princess Diana were unlawfully killed in a car crash in Paris in 1997 - due to the actions of driver Henri Paul and the paparazzi.
Mr Al Fayed's claim including that Diana, Dodi and Henri Paul were "murdered" in an act orchestrated by MI6 on the instructions of the Duke of Edinburgh was dismissed by the coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker as having "not a shred of evidence" to support it.Mr Al Fayed's claim including that Diana, Dodi and Henri Paul were "murdered" in an act orchestrated by MI6 on the instructions of the Duke of Edinburgh was dismissed by the coroner Lord Justice Scott Baker as having "not a shred of evidence" to support it.
Mr Al Fayed said at the time he would accept the verdict, for the sake of Princess Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry.Mr Al Fayed said at the time he would accept the verdict, for the sake of Princess Diana's sons, Princes William and Harry.
He told ITV's News at Ten he had reservations about the outcome but added: "But as I say, I have enough. I am leaving the rest for God to get my revenge. But I am not doing anything any more."
The Egyptian businessman has made several attempts to gain British citizenship which have been turned down.The Egyptian businessman has made several attempts to gain British citizenship which have been turned down.