London, Mar. 29 : The relationship between UK Home Secretary Jacqui Smith and her husband Richard Timney is said to be passing through a very difficult phase following revelations that he has been using taxpayer money to see pornographic films.

Home Secretary Jacqui Smith’s political future is said to be in jeopardy after it was revealed that Timney, who works as his wife’s Commons adviser, used part of the Minister’s second-homes allowance to pay for the blue movies he watched on a subscription television channel.

Government insiders described the relationship between Smith and Timney as ‘very difficult,’ but that they were still together.

It is understood that Timney had been watching explicit adult movies on channels broadcast on the Virgin Media cable TV service.

The scandal revolves around an invoice on which Timney is believed to have made the expenses claims. Subscribers to the service can access X-rated films on the Playboy Channel, the Adult Channel and Television X for around 11 pounds a month. It is also possible to order adult channels on a pay-per-night basis for 5 pounds.

Tory MP Philip Davies said last night that if the porn-movie claims were true, the Home Secretary would have to resign.

The revelation comes as The Mail on Sunday launches a petition to demand a full enquiry into MPs'' expenses.

Smith is already at the centre of huge row after The Mail on Sunday revealed that she had claimed more than 116,000 pounds for a ‘second home’ while effectively lodging with her sister. (ANI)