Former BP chief could face perjury charge

Former BP boss Lord Browne could face a perjury trial after admitting he lied to a court about his relationship with another man.

The 59-year-old resigned with immediate effect after a legal injunction preventing a newspaper group publishing details of his private life was lifted.

He has admitted that he lied in witness statements to the High Court about how he first met former partner Jeff Chevalier but says his allegations were full of "erroneous and misleading claims".

In a statement, Lord Browne said: "In my 41 years with BP I have kept my private life separate from my business life.

"I have always regarded my sexuality as a personal matter, to be kept private. It is a matter of deep disappointment that a newspaper group has now decided that allegations about my personal life should be made public."

Lord Browne, who had been due to step down in the summer, will be replaced by his designated successor Tony Hayward.

BP, which said it accepted Lord Browne's resignation with the "deepest regret", said the chief executive would lose his entitlement to a leaving package worth £3.5 million and a potential £12 million in shares.

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