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SKY NEWS

An inquiry into Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell could be re-opened as she faces renewed questions over her husband’s financial dealings. The news comes as David Mills and Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi wait to hear whether they face bribery and perjury charges. Today is the last day defending lawyers can present new evidence to prosecutors in Milan.

Conservatives have harshly criticised Ms Jowell for not declaring Mr Mills’ shares in a pub chain in the register of MPs’ interests.

Ms
Jowell denies he ever owned them and Sir Philip Mawer, the Parliamentary standards watchdog, said she had done nothing wrong.

But forensic accountants working with Sky News have said Mr Mills was the “beneficial owner” of the company which bought the shares.

Raj Bairoliya, from accountancy firm LLP, said: “Essentially that means to me that the shares have been transferred in his name to him.”

Tory MP Nigel Evans said: “It doesn’t matter at the end of the day that his name wasn’t on the share ownership.

“If it was on the company that owned the shares and he benefited from the profit then clearly they were declarable.”

Opponents insist she still has a case to answer over whether she breached codes of conduct.

Mr Mills is accused of accepting a £350,000 bribe from the Italian premier – a claim denied by both men.