MP `blameless' on firm's failure

London - Former British paymaster general Mr Geoffrey Robinson yesterday claimed he was "totally blameless" over the collapse…

London - Former British paymaster general Mr Geoffrey Robinson yesterday claimed he was "totally blameless" over the collapse of the TransTec engineering company.

The millionaire Labour MP, who founded TransTec in 1976, broke his silence following the firm's admission on Christmas Eve that accounting irregularities had led to it concealing an £11 million claim by the Ford Motor Company from shareholders. However, the firm's former chief accountant, Mr Max Ayriss, said he was standing by claims that Mr Robinson had improperly obtained grants from the Department of Trade and Industry.