Janes' solicitors continue to act for Peter Foster and we must and we will act independently and fearlessly on his behalf as we would for any of our clients.

In the unusual, if not unique set of circumstances that have arisen, we also consider that we have a duty to prevent distorted and inaccurate reports appearing in certain sections of the media.

Jane's solicitors therefore, take this opportunity to categorically refute any expressed or implied story that we knowingly faxed, or personally gave the papers in Peter Foster's immigration case to Cherie Booth QC at 10 Downing Street or elsewhere.

We have only provided the papers to our client and to Carole Caplin in accordance with our client's instructions.

One phone call

He is perfectly entitled to receive his own papers and we are entitled, indeed obliged, to provide them.

We repeat, we did not knowingly fax any papers to Cherie Booth QC.

Janes' solicitors stand absolutely by their press release of 9 December 2002 in which it was stated, and we reiterate, we have only received one telephone call from Cherie Booth.

This was on 22 November. It was a conference call with Carole Caplin.

The avowed and plain intention of the telephone call was to reassure Carole Caplin that the immigration proceedings against Peter Foster were being conducted on a regular and normal basis and there was nothing untoward and we were happy to confirm this.

'No influence'

We wish to emphasise that Cherie Booth QC did not intrude into our conduct of the proceedings and, for the avoidance of doubt, had no say whatsoever in respect of our choice of representation of counsel.

In our opinion, she was simply seeking to provide support and assistance to her friend Carole and she acted with complete propriety. That is what I stated in that previous press release.

We are therefore able to state unequivocally that we have neither sought, nor been given or offered any advice, assistance or influence, whatsoever, by Cherie Booth and any suggestion to the contrary is unfounded.

Further, we are able to confirm that no fax originating from Janes' solicitors was sent to Cherie Booth QC following the telephone call and any press reports to the contrary are inaccurate and misleading.

Finally, no member of Jane's solicitors has disclosed any information on this whole affair to any section of the media, with the sole exception of our press release of the 9 December.

We therefore have no knowledge of the allegation that we faxed the papers to Cherie Booth QC, but for the avoidance of doubt, the story has obviously not emanated from this firm.