Aitken: Under growing pressure

Aitken To Resign from Privy Council

Conservative party sources have confirmed that Mr Aitken will resign from the Privy Council tomorrow. They apparently said the decision was his and his alone, and one described as "very sad but the decent thing" for him to have done. Mr Aitken has informed William Hague of his decision.

There had been growing pressure on the former Tory Cabinet minister to resign his membership. Ann Taylor, leader of the Commons and Lord President of the council, was understood to have discussed Mr Aitken's position with officials. The Government was understood to be awaiting the outcome of the police investigation into whether he should face criminal charges for perjury.

Only the Queen has the power to strip a Privy Counsellor of their office, but she acts on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Privy Council.

Last week Mr Aitken suddenly abandoned his libel case against The Guardian newspaper and a television company.

They had alleged he had accepted financial favours from the Saudi Arabian government, and had been involved in secret weapons deals with Arab countries.

Ttwo former disgraced ministers, John Profumo and John Stonehouse, have also resigned from the Council, but no one has been thrown off since 1921 when Sir Edgar Speyer was struck off for collaborating with the Germans in the First World War.