Falconer warns over honours probe

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Lord Falconer has warned colleagues not to get involved in public discussion about the Metropolitan Police's probe into the cash-for-honours allegations.

The Lord Chancellor told the BBC he would not comment after police warned senior Labour figures not to put "undue pressure" on investigating officers.

Pressed on the subject, he said: "I think we should just stay out of it."

His comments came as reports suggested police had hacked into No 10 computers in their search for evidence.

The Sunday Telegraph and News of the World both reported that police used their own computer experts to search for Downing Street e-mail records, to see if they had been provided with all relevant material.

The reports come after several senior Labour MPs said the arrest on Friday of Number 10 aide Ruth Turner - who denies any wrongdoing - was unnecessary and "theatrical".

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.

Former Home Secretary David Blunkett said he wanted "thoroughness, not theatre" and Mr Blair gave Ms Turner, who as director of government relations is one of his closest aides, his full backing.

'Bewildered'

Those comment led Metropolitan Police Federation chairman Glen Smyth to tell 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."

Tony Blair has given Ruth Turner his full backing - he could do no other BBC political editor Nick Robinson <a class="" href="http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/nickrobinson/">Read Nick's thoughts in full</a> <a class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/4812822.stm">Q&A: Honours probe</a> <a class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6280521.stm">Analysis: Blair impact</a>

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".

No charges

Ms Turner was first questioned last September. She was questioned and released on Friday after being arrested on suspicion of perverting the course of justice.

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.

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.