Blair ally faces new pressure in visa row

A top British minister who faces an inquiry over allegations he abused his position to secure a visa for his married lover's nanny came under fresh pressure yesterday.

Home Secretary (interior minister) David Blunkett was forced to deny renewed allegations he helped "fast-track" the nanny's application after the Daily Mail newspaper said it was approved within 19 days.

"The Home Secretary has done absolutely nothing wrong," said a spokesman for Mr Blunkett, a key ally of Prime Minister Tony Blair and the spearhead of Britain's anti-terror drive.

A Home Office spokeswoman and a spokesman at Mr Blair's Downing Street office both declined to comment.

The main opposition Conservative Party said Mr Blunkett would have to explain why the application was apparently processed so quickly.

"If the Daily Mail story is correct, it is very difficult to understand how this can be the normal length of procedure for an application," David Davis, Conservative spokesman on home affairs, said in a statement. "If he influenced this matter, his position is untenable."

The Daily Mail's allegations provided the British media with a new twist in a high-profile row that has embroiled Mr Blair's government before a general election expected next year.

The newspaper printed two documents which it said were from Mr Blunkett's department and which appeared to show the nanny's application was approved far quicker than originally expected.

It said one letter told Filipina Leoncia Casalme her application could take a year to process. A second, apparently dated less than three weeks later, said the application had been approved and she could stay in Britain.

Mr Blunkett has denied any wrongdoing and set up an independent inquiry on Monday into media accusations that he sought to speed up the visa claim.