Hamilton payment postponed

Neil Hamilton today won a stay on paying costs of ?500,000 incurred in his "cash for questions" libel defeat by Mohamed Al Fayed.

Mr Hamilton and his wife, Christine, were both at the high court in London for the two-hour private hearing before Mr Justice Morland, who presided over the trial in December.

Reading from an agreed statement, the judge said: "Police investigations are being carried out into the circumstances in which certain confidential papers which had been in the possession of Mr Hamilton's lawyers came into the possession of unauthorised persons.

"Against that background, enforcement of the order for costs made against Mr Hamilton at the end of the trial has been stayed pending the outcome of the investigation."

When the deadline of the order expired a week ago, the ex-Tatton MP confirmed that he was not able to pay up, leaving the Harrods owner free to enforce the debt if he chose to do so.

Mr Hamilton hinted that "pretty sensational" developments were in the pipeline. He has previously alleged that Mr Fayed - who denies his claim - had paid ?10,000 for documents taken from rubbish bags outside his lawyers' offices.