In London, the disgraced former Conservative cabinet minister, Jonathon Aitken, has been jailed for 18 months after admitting perjury and perverting the course of justice. Aitken, a former Chief Secretary to the Treasury, admitted lying to the High Court during a failed libel action in 1997. He had tried to sue the Guardian newspaper and Granada television in the High Court over allegations about his links with wealthy Saudi businessmen. The case collapsed after it emerged he lied about aides to the Saudi royal family settling his hotel bill at the Paris Ritz in 1993. Debt collectors last week took his Rolex watch and cufflinks, as well as other possessions from to try to recoup his legal costs of £2 million. He has declared himself bankrupt
