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Blair questioned in honours probe Blair questioned in honours probe
(20 minutes later)
Prime Minister Tony Blair has been interviewed by police investigating cash for honours allegations.Prime Minister Tony Blair has been interviewed by police investigating cash for honours allegations.
The probe began after it was revealed Labour was given secret loans ahead of last year's election. Some donors were subsequently nominated for honours.
Mr Blair was not interviewed under caution and he was not accompanied by a lawyer, his spokesman said.Mr Blair was not interviewed under caution and he was not accompanied by a lawyer, his spokesman said.
Assistant Commissioner John Yates, of Scotland Yard, has said he expects to deliver a report to the CPS next month. The probe was sparked by revelations Labour was given secret loans ahead of last year's election. Some donors were subsequently nominated for honours.
Assistant Commissioner John Yates, of Scotland Yard, has said he expects to complete his inquiry next month.
He will then deliver a report to the Crown Prosecution Service, who will decide whether to prosecute any individuals in connection with the affair.
Mr Blair's spokesman said the two-hour interview was held on Thursday after the weekly Cabinet meeting.Mr Blair's spokesman said the two-hour interview was held on Thursday after the weekly Cabinet meeting.
Mr Blair explained to police why he had nominated each one of the people he had put forward for a peerage. The honours were not for public service but expressly party peerages given for party service Tony Blair's spokesman
There is no indication so far of whether police will want to talk to the prime minister again. As he was not interviewed under caution, Mr Blair is not currently being treated as a suspect.
But police have not indicated whether they will need to ask him further questions or not.
Mr Blair's spokesman said: "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 that fact that they had supported the party financially could not conceivably be a barrier to their nomination," he said.
The inquiry was prompted by a complaint from the Scottish National Party, and has since widened to include other main parties.The inquiry was prompted by a complaint from the Scottish National Party, and has since widened to include other main parties.
"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," the PM's spokesman added. Interview 'expected'
"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," the PM's spokesman added.
About 90 people have been interviewed by the police. All deny any wrongdoing.About 90 people have been interviewed by the police. All deny any wrongdoing.
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said it was an extraordinary development but one that had been expected for some weeks.BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said it was an extraordinary development but one that had been expected for some weeks.
But he said the fact that Mr Blair was not interviewed under caution was significant as it implied that police did not intend to bring any charges against him.But he said the fact that Mr Blair was not interviewed under caution was significant as it implied that police did not intend to bring any charges against him.
But he said it was an embarrassment for the prime minister who had promised to make politics "whiter than white" when he came to power in 1997. Unprecedented
But he said it was an embarrassment for the prime minister who had promised to make politics "purer than pure" when he came to power in 1997.
Professor of government at the London School of Economics, Rodney Barker, told the BBC it was "virtually unprecedented" for a serving prime minister to be questioned by police.
"This cannot do his reputation any good, however unjustifiably.
"It will increase the perception of those who see him as not entirely straightforward or entirely trustworthy," Prof Barker said.
"It's one more straw on the back of a rather struggling camel."