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| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Police defend role in Turner case | |
| (about 6 hours later) | |
| Police have warned senior Labour figures to stop putting "undue pressure" on officers investigating "cash-for-honours" claims. | Police have warned senior Labour figures to stop putting "undue pressure" on officers investigating "cash-for-honours" claims. |
| Several senior Labour MPs have called the arrest on Friday of Number 10 aide Ruth Turner, who denies any wrongdoing, unnecessary and "theatrical". | Several senior Labour MPs have called the arrest on Friday of Number 10 aide Ruth Turner, who denies any wrongdoing, unnecessary and "theatrical". |
| But the Metropolitan Police Federation said this was not an "appropriate moment" to make such comments. | But the Metropolitan Police Federation said this was not an "appropriate moment" to make such comments. |
| The Liberal Democrats said police were acting professionally and normally. | The Liberal Democrats said police were acting professionally and normally. |
| 'Bewildered' | 'Bewildered' |
| Ms Turner was questioned on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and was later released. | Ms Turner was questioned on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and was later released. |
| Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said she was "slightly bewildered" as to why the arrest had happened early in the morning, with four policemen knocking on the door of Ms Turner - who was then released without charge. | |
| "She has fully co-operated and she is a person of utter decency and conscientiousness and I am surprised," Ms Jowell said. | |
| Former Downing Street aide Lance Price said: "It does look a bit theatrical. | Former Downing Street aide Lance Price said: "It does look a bit theatrical. |
| Tony Blair has given Ruth Turner his full backing - he could do no other BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Q&A: Honours probe Analysis: Blair impact | Tony Blair has given Ruth Turner his full backing - he could do no other BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full Q&A: Honours probe Analysis: Blair impact |
| "Ruth Turner has co-operated with the inquiry all the way through up until this point. There's been no suggestion that she wasn't willing to give police any help that they asked for. | "Ruth Turner has co-operated with the inquiry all the way through up until this point. There's been no suggestion that she wasn't willing to give police any help that they asked for. |
| "So it does seem pretty extraordinary to do the sort of dawn raid that we associate generally with people who are about to abscond justice and fly on a plane to Bermuda or something." | "So it does seem pretty extraordinary to do the sort of dawn raid that we associate generally with people who are about to abscond justice and fly on a plane to Bermuda or something." |
| Former Home Secretary David Blunkett said he wanted "thoroughness, not theatre". | Former Home Secretary David Blunkett said he wanted "thoroughness, not theatre". |
| Mr Blair gave Ms Turner, who as director of government relations is one of his closest aides, his full backing. | Mr Blair gave Ms Turner, who as director of government relations is one of his closest aides, his full backing. |
| 'No-one above the law' | |
| However, Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Glen Smyth told BBC News 24: "You get government ministers and senior members of the Labour party criticising the inquiry, which has frankly not even given a report to the Crown Prosecution Service yet. | However, Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Glen Smyth told BBC News 24: "You get government ministers and senior members of the Labour party criticising the inquiry, which has frankly not even given a report to the Crown Prosecution Service yet. |
| "What sort of undue pressure are they trying to bring? If that's not what they are intending, it's certainly the impression that they are leaving for the officers involved and, I suspect, many other people. | "What sort of undue pressure are they trying to bring? If that's not what they are intending, it's certainly the impression that they are leaving for the officers involved and, I suspect, many other people. |
| "They should wait for the appropriate moment." | "They should wait for the appropriate moment." |
| Len Duvall, the Labour politician who chairs the Metropolitan Police Authority, called on others not to try to "manipulate or pressurise" officers. | Len Duvall, the Labour politician who chairs the Metropolitan Police Authority, called on others not to try to "manipulate or pressurise" officers. |
| In a statement, he told critics that "no one in this country is above the law". | In a statement, he told critics that "no one in this country is above the law". |
| Liberal Democrat spokesman Lord Thomas of Gresford said: "Once the police had formed a reasonable suspicion of her perverting the course of justice, as they must have, it was their duty to act swiftly and professionally to preserve any evidence. | Liberal Democrat spokesman Lord Thomas of Gresford said: "Once the police had formed a reasonable suspicion of her perverting the course of justice, as they must have, it was their duty to act swiftly and professionally to preserve any evidence. |
| "That is commonplace, as any criminal lawyer knows. | "That is commonplace, as any criminal lawyer knows. |
| "Pressure put upon the police by people in high places suggests that they want the investigation stopped." | "Pressure put upon the police by people in high places suggests that they want the investigation stopped." |
| No charges | |
| Ms Turner was first questioned by police in September. | Ms Turner was first questioned by police in September. |
| The Metropolitan Police inquiry into claims people gave political donations in exchange for peerages began after it emerged that a number of large secret loans had been made to the Labour Party before the 2005 general election, and that some of those lenders had subsequently been nominated for peerages. | The Metropolitan Police inquiry into claims people gave political donations in exchange for peerages began after it emerged that a number of large secret loans had been made to the Labour Party before the 2005 general election, and that some of those lenders had subsequently been nominated for peerages. |
| The investigation later widened to cover the other main parties. | The investigation later widened to cover the other main parties. |
| Police have so far spoken to about 90 people including Mr Blair and former Tory leader Michael Howard. | Police have so far spoken to about 90 people including Mr Blair and former Tory leader Michael Howard. |
| All deny wrongdoing. No one has been charged. | All deny wrongdoing. No one has been charged. |