Disgraced former British Tory minister Mr Neil Hamilton - the man at the heart of the cash for questions scandal - was declared bankrupt today.
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Former British Tory minister Mr Neil Hamilton.
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A bankruptcy order has been made against him, a spokeswoman for Macclesfield County Court said.
The judgment brings to an end years of legal action and clears the former Tory high flyer who lost his seat in the 1997 general election to BBC reporter Mr Martin Bell of debts estimated at around £3 million sterling.
Mr Hamilton will be a bankrupt for three years unless his creditors agree to a shorter period. He is expected to be forced to sell his million-pound home in Cheshire.
Mr Hamilton's downfall started when he sued Harrods owner Mr Mohammed Al Fayed for libel over accusations he took money for asking questions in parliament.
He lost the case in London's High Court in December 1999 and the subsequent appeal a year later. The bankruptcy petition against him was brought by Mr Fayed.
Mr Hamilton, who has accused Mr Fayed of being vindictive, has said he will take the decision on the original libel action to the European Court of Human Rights.