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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Honours police arrest Lord Levy | Honours police arrest Lord Levy |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy has been re-arrested by police looking into cash-for-honours allegations. | Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy has been re-arrested by police looking into cash-for-honours allegations. |
| He was questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and later bailed. | He was questioned on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and later bailed. |
| Lord Levy, a close ally of Tony Blair, was first arrested last year in connection with claims honours had been sold in exchange for party donations. | Lord Levy, a close ally of Tony Blair, was first arrested last year in connection with claims honours had been sold in exchange for party donations. |
| A spokesman for Lord Levy said he "completely denies any allegations of wrongdoing whatsoever". | A spokesman for Lord Levy said he "completely denies any allegations of wrongdoing whatsoever". |
| Downing Street declined to comment on Lord Levy's latest arrest. | Downing Street declined to comment on Lord Levy's latest arrest. |
| The Metropolitan Police have so far spoken to about 90 people in connection with their inquiries, including Tony Blair and former Conservative leader Michael Howard. | The Metropolitan Police have so far spoken to about 90 people in connection with their inquiries, including Tony Blair and former Conservative leader Michael Howard. |
| Dawn raid | Dawn raid |
| Four people have been arrested - Lord Levy, Downing Street adviser Ruth Turner, Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans and head teacher Des Smith, who was involved in the government's City Academy programme. | Four people have been arrested - Lord Levy, Downing Street adviser Ruth Turner, Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans and head teacher Des Smith, who was involved in the government's City Academy programme. |
| No one has been charged and all involved deny any wrongdoing. | No one has been charged and all involved deny any wrongdoing. |
| Increasingly this sorry affair has the whiff of Watergate about it Ed Davey, Lib Dems Analysis: Probe widens? Lord Levy profile | Increasingly this sorry affair has the whiff of Watergate about it Ed Davey, Lib Dems Analysis: Probe widens? Lord Levy profile |
| The Scotland Yard team, led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates, had been due to deliver its file of evidence to prosecutors by the end of this month. | The Scotland Yard team, led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates, had been due to deliver its file of evidence to prosecutors by the end of this month. |
| But they warned that would no longer be possible after Ms Turner was arrested in a dawn raid on her London home earlier this month. | But they warned that would no longer be possible after Ms Turner was arrested in a dawn raid on her London home earlier this month. |
| Other members of Mr Blair's inner circle to have spoken to officers investigating cash for honours claims include his of political operations John McTernan, who has been interviewed twice. | Other members of Mr Blair's inner circle to have spoken to officers investigating cash for honours claims include his of political operations John McTernan, who has been interviewed twice. |
| Mr Blair's chief of staff Jonathan Powell has also reportedly been quizzed under caution. | Mr Blair's chief of staff Jonathan Powell has also reportedly been quizzed under caution. |
| Liberal Democrat chief of staff Edward Davey said: "Increasingly this sorry affair has the whiff of Watergate about it. | Liberal Democrat chief of staff Edward Davey said: "Increasingly this sorry affair has the whiff of Watergate about it. |
| "For [former US president Richard] Nixon the crime was the cover up, but we must await the result of the police investigation to see whether something similar is now happening in Downing Street. " | "For [former US president Richard] Nixon the crime was the cover up, but we must await the result of the police investigation to see whether something similar is now happening in Downing Street. " |
| It is understood Lord Levy was questioned for more than four hours. | |
| His spokesman issued a statement saying: "Lord Levy went to the police station as asked. He was interviewed again. He completely denies any allegation of wrongdoing whatsoever. | |
| "He left the police station in the early afternoon and since there is a continuing investigation he will not make any further comments at this time." | "He left the police station in the early afternoon and since there is a continuing investigation he will not make any further comments at this time." |
| Lord Levy was first arrested last July, in connection with alleged offences under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 and Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. | Lord Levy was first arrested last July, in connection with alleged offences under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 and Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. |
| The inquiry 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 inquiry 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. |
| SNP reaction | SNP reaction |
| The investigation has since widened to cover the other main parties. | The investigation has since widened to cover the other main parties. |
| The cash-for-honours inquiry was prompted by a complaint by Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil that financial support was being rewarded with honours. | The cash-for-honours inquiry was prompted by a complaint by Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil that financial support was being rewarded with honours. |
| He said of Lord Levy: "This of course is the man who's been closest to Tony Blair in the whole fundraising escapade for Labour. | He said of Lord Levy: "This of course is the man who's been closest to Tony Blair in the whole fundraising escapade for Labour. |
| "And it really doesn't look good for Labour at all." | "And it really doesn't look good for Labour at all." |
| At the weekend, appearing on BBC One's Politics Show, Mr Blair repeatedly declined to answer questions on the police investigation. | At the weekend, appearing on BBC One's Politics Show, Mr Blair repeatedly declined to answer questions on the police investigation. |
| He said: "Let the thing run its course and then we will see." | He said: "Let the thing run its course and then we will see." |