A former Tory minister is tangled up in a legal battle with a London antiques dealer. The London Evening Standard‘s account makes one wonder whether the politician was just surprised when he discovered the way the antiques business really works:

Mr Mellor is suing the former directors and shareholders of Partridge Fine Art, in Bond Street, alleging “systematic fraud and counterfeiting” going back 20 years. In a High Court writ, the former national heritage secretary claims pieces of furniture were doctored to enhance their value. But the Partridge family has denied any wrongdoing and accused Mr Mellor of falsely claiming fraud to avoid paying the £1.3 million still owed by him and his business partners after they took a 51 per cent stake in the firm in 2005. They are threatening a libel suit against Mr Mellor.Continue Reading