As endorsements go it was hardly ringing. Asked whether David Cameron still had confidence in his Defence Secretary the answer came back: "The Prime Minister is remaining supportive of Liam Fox while the facts are established."
Later in the day the backing was increased and Downing Street said the two men had spoken and "David really doesn't want to lose Liam". But the fact remains the two men have never much liked each other and privately Cameron would not be unhappy to see the departure of Fox.
But there's a catch: Downing Street can only force him out if he returns to the back benches under such a cloud that he can't cause trouble for the Coalition in the future.
Fox is the highest profile rightwinger in the Government. As a minister he is bound by collective responsibility, but if he were to leave office he would be free to speak his mind and emerge as the de facto leader of the anti-Coalition movement inside the Tory parliamentary party. That would spell trouble down the line for the Government.
It is quite possible that the initial results of the inquiry could clear Fox on one level but are inconclusive on other aspects of the affair. In that case it is likely that Downing Street will play for time - still not fully endorsing the Defence Secretary and waiting to see what else emerges in newspapers over the coming days.
