Fayed sacks conspiracy spinner

Charles Wardle, the former Immigration Minister who gave up a safe Tory seat to work for Mohamed Fayed, has been sacked as a director of Harrods.

Four months after being appointed to the board of the Knightsbridge store, his contract was abruptly terminated last week.

Mr Wardle, whose £120,000-plus job as director of public affairs included promoting Mr Fayed's theory that the Princess of Wales was assassinated on the orders of Prince Philip in 1997, is understood to have fallen out with the Egyptian-born tycoon over the fatal crash.

He was hired last year to help Mr Fayed win a British passport. In a statement released today Harrods said: "Following an initial appointment as nonexecutive director of Harrods on 1 March, 2001, Mr Charles Wardle became a full board member of Harrods on 11 June with responsibility for public affairs.

"Mr Wardle's appointment has been terminated with effect from 24 October, 2001."

Mr Wardle was unavailable to comment. His sacking follows that two months ago of Mr Fayed's former favourite, Mark Griffiths, after allegations that financial irregularities had been found in his boss's personal accounts.