The arrest of Neil and Christine Hamilton yesterday in connection with an allegation of serious sexual assault is the latest twist in a long saga.
October 20, 1994: The Guardian reports that Hamilton, then a Department for Trade and Industry minister, had taken thousands of pounds from Harrods owner Mohamed Al Fayed in return for asking questions in the House of Commons. Hamilton receives Downing Street backing to remain in office while he fights to clear his name.
October 21, 1994: More details emerge of Hamilton and his wife Christine's six-day stay at the Paris Ritz, owned by Al Fayed, where the couple ran up a bill totalling thousands of pounds that was met by the Egyptian businessman.
October 25, 1994: John Major announces to the Commons that Hamilton has resigned and sets up an inquiry, headed by Appeal Court judge Lord Nolan, to consider "standards in public life". The former minister's anger at being forced out spills over into his resignation letter, accusing Major of bowing to a "witch-hunt".
September 30, 1996: Just hours before his libel action against the Guardian is to be heard, Hamilton drops the action, saying he has run out of money to pay for the legal costs but still maintaining his innocence.
October 15, 1996: Fresh allegations in the media trigger a new investigation into Hamilton's affairs by the Standards and Privileges Committee, headed by Sir Gordon Downey.
July 3, 1997: Sir Gordon's damning report is finally published, finding "compelling evidence" that Hamilton took cash for questions and recommending that, if he had not lost his seat, Hamilton should have been suspended from the Commons.
January 1998: Hamilton launches his libel action against Al Fayed.
December 21, 1999: Hamilton loses the case.
December 21, 2000: A year to the day after Hamilton lost his case, his appeal against his cash for questions libel defeat fails. Hamilton declared bankrupt after being left with spiralling debts from his unsuccessful libel action.
August 10, 2001: Hamilton and his wife are arrested in connection with an allegation of sexual assault.
They attend Barkingshire police station in East London by appointment and are arrested and questioned by detectives.
Mrs Hamilton says the allegations are a "monstrous fabrication".