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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.
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.
The probe was sparked by revelations Labour was given secret loans ahead of last year's election. Some donors were subsequently nominated for honours.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.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.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. The BBC understands that Mr Yates did not conduct the interview. Scotland Yard said its investigation was continuing.
Mr Blair's spokesman said the interview, which lasted for about two hours, was held earlier on Thursday after the weekly Cabinet meeting.
Mr Blair remained in Number 10 until 1430GMT when he left to travel to Brussels for a meeting of the European Commission.
The honours were not for public service but expressly party peerages given for party service Tony Blair's spokesmanThe honours were not for public service but expressly party peerages given for party service Tony Blair's spokesman
As he was not interviewed under caution, Mr Blair is not currently being treated as a suspect. Mr Blair was not interviewed under caution, which means he is not currently being treated as a suspect.
But police have not indicated whether they will need to ask him further questions or not. Police have not indicated whether they will need to ask him further questions.
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.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."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."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.
Interview 'expected'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."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 and three have been arrested. All deny any wrongdoing.
The men who lent money and were then nominated for peerages were:
  • Barry Townsley, a stockbroker who has also donated money towards a city academy school
  • Sir David Garrard, a property developer who also donated money to a city academy
  • Dr Chai Patel, chief executive of Priory Clinics
  • Sir Gulam Noon, who says he was advised to keep a £250,000 loan secret, and that he was blocked from joining the House of Lords once the loan came to the attention of the Lords appointment commission.
SNP MP Angus MacNeil, whose complaint sparked the investigation, said the questioning of the PM "will be shaking the very foundations of Westminster". "For the prime minister to be questioned by the police during a criminal investigation is unprecedented.
"We know that a number of Downing Street officials have been questioned many times by the police and this could be only the first of such a series of questions for the Prime Minister, also," Mr MacNeil said.
The Conservative party has not commented.
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. Damage to reputation
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.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.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."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 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.""It's one more straw on the back of a rather struggling camel."