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Tory Aitken returns to politics Tory Aitken to advise on prisons
(30 minutes later)
Disgraced former Tory Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken is to lead a study into prison reform. Disgraced former Tory Cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken - and ex-prisoner - is to lead a study into prison reform for a body which advises the Tories.
Mr Aitken will head a policy task force for think tank the Centre for Social Justice, which advises Conservative leader David Cameron on social issues. Mr Aitken will head a policy taskforce for Iain Duncan Smith's Centre for Social Justice, which advises Tory leader David Cameron on social issues.
He was jailed for 18 months in 1999 for perjury during a libel action. He was jailed for 18 months in 1999 for perjury during a libel action, which he had resigned his Cabinet post to fight.
Speaking to the Observer, the 65-year-old confirmed he would be heading the study. Prison reform is "a cause dear to my heart," Aitken told the Observer.
Mr Aitken resigned as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 1997 so he could sue the Guardian over allegations that a Saudi businessman had paid for him to stay at the Paris Ritz in breach of ministerial rules. Aitken resigned as Chief Secretary to the Treasury in 1997 so he could sue the Guardian over allegations that a Saudi businessman had paid for him to stay at the Paris Ritz in breach of ministerial rules.
There was a personal rehabilitation for Jonathan Aitken during his time in jail Nick WoodCentre for Social JusticeThere was a personal rehabilitation for Jonathan Aitken during his time in jail Nick WoodCentre for Social Justice
Launching the action, he insisted that the "simple sword of truth" would help him win.Launching the action, he insisted that the "simple sword of truth" would help him win.
He served almost seven months of his sentence for committing perjury during the libel case before being released in January 2000.He served almost seven months of his sentence for committing perjury during the libel case before being released in January 2000.
Confirming he was taking the prison reform job, he said: "It is a cause dear to my heart for obvious reasons.Confirming he was taking the prison reform job, he said: "It is a cause dear to my heart for obvious reasons.
"It is an assignment well worth taking extremely seriously. This isn't an ego trip for me. This is a job to be done. I have a very good team who I think will help to do it well.""It is an assignment well worth taking extremely seriously. This isn't an ego trip for me. This is a job to be done. I have a very good team who I think will help to do it well."
Former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith, who runs the think tank, will formally unveil the appointment on Monday. Former Tory leader Mr Duncan Smith, who runs the think tank, will formally unveil the appointment on Monday.
'Direct experience''Direct experience'
Nick Wood, media advisor to the Centre for Social Justice, discussed the decision to bring the former minister back into the political frontline. Nick Wood, media advisor to the Centre for Social Justice, discussed the decision to bring the former minister back into the political community.
He told the BBC: "There was a personal rehabilitation for Jonathan Aitken during his time in jail. He has written about this, he has talked about it and he has campaigned for prison reform."He told the BBC: "There was a personal rehabilitation for Jonathan Aitken during his time in jail. He has written about this, he has talked about it and he has campaigned for prison reform."
And, explaining Iain Duncan Smith's thinking behind the appointment, he went on: "One of the things that Iain is keen on is that people leading political groups should have some direct experience of the subjects they are working on. And, explaining Mr Duncan Smith's thinking behind the appointment, he said: "One of the things that Iain is keen on is that people leading political groups should have some direct experience of the subjects they are working on.
"I think Jonathan Aitken certainly has the experience of jail and he has shown a great deal of thought and interest in it since.""I think Jonathan Aitken certainly has the experience of jail and he has shown a great deal of thought and interest in it since."
'Wrong signal'
Peter Preston, who edited the Guardian at the time of the court case, told BBC 5 Live Aitken's appointment could send out the wrong signals.
"Basically, had we lost on all that false testimony, we would have been out as an organisation well over £1m in damages and legal costs.
"And if you say that's effectively stealing, I'm not sure that putting him back in charge of something like this, actually doesn't say that libel is....it's all right to lie about newspapers but it's not OK to steal."