A charity founded by Conservative MP Liam Fox and run by Adam Werrity, who are currently at the centre of a political storm about the extent of Werrity’s involvement with the Ministry of Defence, has been removed from the Charity Commission’s register.

Werrity was the only employee of UK charity the Atlantic Bridge Education and Research Scheme which Fox set up in 2003 and was a trustee until May 2010. Former PM Margaret Thatcher was patron of the organisation which conducted research into the ‘special relationship’ between the UK and USA.

In 2009 a member of the public complained that the charity appeared to be a party political organisation so the Commission launched an investigation into the charity and published its report in July 2010.  The investigation was a regulatory compliance case but stopped short of a statutotry inquiry under the Charities Act 1993.

The investigaton concluded that: “The educational objects of the charity have not been advanced by its activities because these activities promote a particular point of view which is not uncontroversial.”

The charity was ordered to undertake a review of its activities and a Charity Commission spokeswoman confirmed that last month the trustees of the charity informed the Commission of their decision to wind up the charity.  "They considered that it could no longer continue to operate.”

She added: “On 23 September 2011 a declaration was made on behalf of the trustees that the charity had been wound up having settled all outstanding liabilities and transferring any remaining charitable funds to another registered charity with compatible charitable objects.”

This morning the Prime Minister was due to receive an interim report on the Defence Secretary’s relationship with Werrity, who had visited the Ministry several times and sat in on meetings.