Blair quizzed by police over "cash for honours"

Dec 14 2006 By Jonathan Walker, Birmingham Mail

TONY Blair was questioned by police investigating the "cash for honours" scandal today.

The Prime Minister went through a humiliating two-hour grilling when detectives visited him in Downing Street.

But he was not cautioned and not arrested Ð suggesting he is unlikely to be caught up in any prosecution bought by Scotland Yard.

Mr Blair's treatment was in stark contrast to Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy, who has been arrested and interviewed twice.

Assistant Commissioner John Yates, known as "Yates of the Yard" has said he expects to deliver a report to the Crown Prosecution Service next month.

He is leading an investigation into claims that laws made in 1925, banning the sale of honours, have been broken by political parties.

The probe began after it was revealed the Labour Party was given secret loans ahead of the last general election.

Four businessmen, who provided a total of £4.5 million, were then nominated for peerages.

Labour went on to reveal it had secretly borrowed nearly £14m ahead of the last election.

The Conservatives borrowed £16m from 13 wealthy backers. The Liberal Democrats have said they owe £850,000 to three backers.

The Prime Minister's Official Spokesman said he was interviewed from 11am to 1pm today [14 DEC].

He described the meeting as "low key" and said Mr Blair was interviewed as a witness.

The inquiry followed a complaint made to police by the Scottish National Party.

Mr Blair's spokesman said: "Given that the SNP made the complaint about people nominated for peerages by the Prime Minister you would expect that the police would ask to see the PM as their inquiries come to a conclusion."