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Honours police quizzed McConnell Honours police quizzed McConnell
(30 minutes later)
Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell was quizzed by police in connection with the cash-for-honours inquiry, it has been confirmed.Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell was quizzed by police in connection with the cash-for-honours inquiry, it has been confirmed.
Mr McConnell was spoken to in London by officers from Scotland Yard last month as a witness and not under caution.Mr McConnell was spoken to in London by officers from Scotland Yard last month as a witness and not under caution.
It is understood Mr McConnell was asked about the peerage nomination of former Lord Advocate Colin Boyd.It is understood Mr McConnell was asked about the peerage nomination of former Lord Advocate Colin Boyd.
Metropolitan Police officers have been probing claims that political donations were given in exchange for peerages.Metropolitan Police officers have been probing claims that political donations were given in exchange for peerages.
The inquiry was sparked 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 inquiry was sparked 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 entire Labour Party is becoming engulfed in this crisis of its own making Angus MacNeilSNP MP
Police have so far spoken to about 90 people including Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Tory leader Michael Howard.Police have so far spoken to about 90 people including Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Tory leader Michael Howard.
The PM is at the core of this in legal terms, but he isn't facing an election and Jack McConnell is facing an election in May Brian TaylorBBC Scotland political editor
All deny wrongdoing and no-one has been charged.All deny wrongdoing and no-one has been charged.
Mr McConnell stressed he knew nothing about cash advances to the Labour Party.Mr McConnell stressed he knew nothing about cash advances to the Labour Party.
When he was lord advocate, Lord Boyd was head of the prosecution service and was also the Scottish Executive's senior legal adviser.When he was lord advocate, Lord Boyd was head of the prosecution service and was also the Scottish Executive's senior legal adviser.
Mr McConnell announced the peerage in April last year.Mr McConnell announced the peerage in April last year.
The first minister was interviewed by police on 15 December, the day after Mr Blair was questioned in the cash-for-honours inquiry. December interview
Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil raised the original complaint over alleged cash-for-honours to the police.
He said: "The entire Labour Party is becoming engulfed in this crisis of its own making.
"No-one believes for a second that Mr McConnell is directly implicated in securing cash for honours.
"But as a political party, Labour has financed campaigns north and south of the Border with funding from people whom Tony Blair has subsequently ennobled or knighted.
"Eighty pence in every pound donated to Labour has come from people who have received honours."
Former Lord Advocate Colin Boyd became a peer last year
Mr McConnell was interviewed by police on 15 December, the day after Mr Blair was questioned in the cash-for-honours inquiry.
BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor said the net the police had cast had now looped over Mr McConnell's head.BBC Scotland's political editor Brian Taylor said the net the police had cast had now looped over Mr McConnell's head.
'Political drowning'
He told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The first minister is exasperated, he believes that he has been dragged in unnecessarily, he believes privately that there could have been an exchange of letters.He told BBC Scotland's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The first minister is exasperated, he believes that he has been dragged in unnecessarily, he believes privately that there could have been an exchange of letters.
"But there is a bigger issue than embarrassment for Mr McConnell of being interviewed by the police and that is the political implication for the May election."But there is a bigger issue than embarrassment for Mr McConnell of being interviewed by the police and that is the political implication for the May election.
"When Tony Blair was interviewed and when Ruth Turner, the PM's aide was interviewed, the SNP MP Angus MacNeil, who first promoted these investigations, said the water was now lapping around Tony Blair's neck.
"Well, Jack McConnell's concern politically, not legally, must be that the impact of political drowning comes on him, not Tony Blair.
"The PM is at the core of this in legal terms, but he isn't facing an election and Jack McConnell is facing an election in May."The PM is at the core of this in legal terms, but he isn't facing an election and Jack McConnell is facing an election in May.
"The constant reminder of these allegations must be potentially damaging for Labour prospects at the election.""The constant reminder of these allegations must be potentially damaging for Labour prospects at the election."