A Tory frontbencher today called for Harrods boss Mohamed al Fayed to be deported from the UK, labelling him a "thief, crook and liar''.

Gerald Howarth said at Commons question time he had caused "great distress'' by making "absurd allegations'' over the death of Diana, Princess of Wales and his son Dodi al Fayed.

Mr al Fayed had told the inquest into their deaths that they were murdered in a conspiracy involving the Security Services and the Duke of Edinburgh.

But this was rejected by the jury who returned a verdict that the Princess was unlawfully killed by the gross negligence of chauffeur Henri Paul in a Paris road tunnel, while being pursued by paparazzi photographers.

After the verdict, Mr al Fayed said he had finally abandoned his 10-and-a-half year long legal quest to prove that Diana and his son were murdered by the security services.

Mr Howarth, MP for Aldershot and shadow defence minister, said: "Given the great distress caused by al Fayed's absurd allegations and his burden on the public purse, will the Home Secretary now take swift action to remove for good as an undesirable alien, this thief, crook and liar?'' Smiling to MPs, Home Office Minister Liam Byrne said: "I have made it my policy not to discuss individual cases on the floor of the House. Suffice to say the comments are now on the record.''