[Ephedrine]

Police quiz Blair over honours


Hélène Mulholland and agencies
Thursday December 14, 2006
Guardian Unlimited


Tony Blair leaves 10 Downing Street after police investigating the ‘cash-for-honours’ affair questioned him. Photograph: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire.

Tony Blair was questioned by police today as part of the cash-for-honours inquiry.
Detectives arrived at Number 10 this morning and subjected the prime minister to a two-hour grilling.

A spokesman for Mr Blair said the premier had denied that peerages had been offered for sale.

The prime minister was not cautioned but interviewed as a witness without the presence of a lawyer.

Scotland Yard officers arrived at Downing Street shortly before 11 and left just before 1pm today.

The spokesman said: "The prime minister spoke to police today in Downing Street. This was not under caution, nor was he accompanied by a lawyer."
He described the interview as a robust exchange, and said a civil servant had been present to take notes.

He added that Mr Blair had explained to police why four businessmen had been nominated for peerages, and insisted that giving money to a political party should not prevent someone from receiving an honour.

"The prime minister explained why he nominated each of the individuals and he did so as party leader in respect of the peerages reserved for party supporters as other party leaders do.

"The honours were not, therefore, for public service but expressly party peerages given for party service.

"In these circumstances, the fact that they had supported the party financially could not conceivably be a barrier to their nomination," he said.

The four men in question are Barry Townsley, a stockbroker who has also donated money towards a city academy school; Dr Chai Patel, chief executive of Priory Clinics, Sir David Garrard, a property developer who also donated money to a city academy; and Sir Gulam Noon, who says he was advised to keep a £250,000 loan secret.

Scotland Yard said they were not planning to make any statement on the interview. There was no suggestion that the prime minister would be interviewed again.

Angus MacNeil, the SNP MP who triggered the police investigation, said: "This revelation will be shaking the very foundations of Westminster. For the prime minister to be questioned by the police during a criminal investigation is unprecedented."

A Conservative party spokesman refused to comment on the development.

The move follows months of speculation over whether, or when, Mr Blair would receive a knock on the door from the team led by the acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner, John Yates.

Mr Blair's spokesman flatly denied that the interview had been deliberately timed to coincide with the release of the Stevens inquiry report into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

"Categorically that was not a factor at all. Categorically there was no linkage to other events," he said.

Downing Street would not say how many police officers were involved although it is thought that Mr Yates was not among them.

Elfyn Llwyd, the Plaid Cymru MP who also complained to the police over government probity in nominating party donors for honours, welcomed today's development.

"Whatever the outcome of all this I do compliment the metropolitan police on its thoroughness in their inquiries and whatever comes out of this I do believe lessons have been learned by all major political parties."

The Liberal Democrats said the inquiry prompted the need for reforms of party funding rules.

Norman Lamb, chief of staff to Menzies Campbell, said: "Clearly this is a very serious matter, and it is important that the police are allowed to continue and conclude their investigations.

"Whatever the final outcome of the investigation, this sorry episode underlines the vital importance of reforming both the House of Lords and rules relating to party funding.

"For as long as parties are allowed to accept very large donations from donors and retain the ability to award seats in the House of Lords, it will be impossible to restore public confidence in our political system."

The prime minister is one of around 100 witnesses to be interviewed during the nine-month inquiry, the majority of which were Labour and Conservative MPs.

A number of non-party members have also been interviewed, including leading civil servants in the Cabinet Office and Downing Street, and company directors who did not belong to any of the major parties.

Police told MPs last month they have already unearthed "significant and valuable material" during their trawl for evidence that political parties broke the law before the general election.

Mr Yates has also signalled that the inquiry is in its last stages and is expected to conclude by January.

The inquiry is taking a dual approach; looking at the 2005 working peerages list and any offences in that period relating to the 1925 Honours (Prevention of Abuse) Act and the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000, which covers party funding and the presentation of accounts.


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[wrewsTear]

for those not familiar with the British system the House of Lords is roughy equivalent to the US Senate.

Therefore, Tony Blair is being suspected of or accused of the British equivalent of George. W Bush selling seats in the Senate.

[Enjknsua]

for those not familiar with the British system the House of Lords is roughy equivalent to the US Senate.

Therefore, Tony Blair is being suspected of or accused of the British equivalent of George. W Bush selling seats in the Senate.

The difference is, is that Blair is accountable. He should resign if he has got his hands dirty.

[thushioli]

The difference is, is that Blair is accountable. He should resign if he has got his hands dirty.

We can live in hope.