Tories scent blood over Robinson

THE TREASURY minister Geoffrey Robinson was yesterday defended by Peter Snape, the Labour MP, as a "sitting target" who was being accused by Tory MPs of impropriety because he was rich and a Labour minister.

Tory MPs were in full cry in their pursuit of Mr Robinson, the Paymaster General, for allegedly failing to declare pounds 150,000 paid as a director of a company run by Robert Max-well. Mr Snape, a friend of Mr Robinson, said: "It's not a new allegation. It's been made previously and denied previously. I think some of these stories come forward because he is a rich man and a Labour MP and a rather successful minister. It makes him a sitting target."

The millionaire former businessman is being pursued over his extensive business dealings. The latest twist in the saga, involving money received nearly eight years ago, was dismissed by officials who insisted that he had done nothing wrong. Mr Robinson has an acknowledgement that it was declared but it did not appear Register of Members' Interests because it was too late for the printers.