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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| No charges on 'cash for honours' | No charges on 'cash for honours' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The BBC understands that no-one is to face charges after the 16-month cash-for-honours investigation. | The BBC understands that no-one is to face charges after the 16-month cash-for-honours investigation. |
| Four people were arrested - including two of Tony Blair's aides - during inquiries into whether honours were sold and whether a cover-up followed. | Four people were arrested - including two of Tony Blair's aides - during inquiries into whether honours were sold and whether a cover-up followed. |
| Police interviewed 136 people, including ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Tory leader Michael Howard. | Police interviewed 136 people, including ex-Prime Minister Tony Blair and former Tory leader Michael Howard. |
| All denied wrongdoing, but friends of Mr Blair say the investigation helped weaken his authority. | All denied wrongdoing, but friends of Mr Blair say the investigation helped weaken his authority. |
| Serious allegations | Serious allegations |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said that Scotland Yard is preparing to make a public defence of its officers. | |
| He said they are bound to come under fierce criticism for dragging out their inquiries for so long yet failing to produce a result. | |
| Assistant Commissioner John Yates of the Metropolitan Police - who headed up the investigation - has said from the outset his officers were simply doing their jobs by investigating serious allegations. | Assistant Commissioner John Yates of the Metropolitan Police - who headed up the investigation - has said from the outset his officers were simply doing their jobs by investigating serious allegations. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service is set to announce its decision in the morning but has so far refused to formally comment. | The Crown Prosecution Service is set to announce its decision in the morning but has so far refused to formally comment. |
| Mr Blair's chief fundraiser Lord Levy, his Director of Government Relations Ruth Turner and Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans were all arrested as part of the inquiry. | Mr Blair's chief fundraiser Lord Levy, his Director of Government Relations Ruth Turner and Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans were all arrested as part of the inquiry. |
| Political first | |
| Police spent more than a year investigating whether people were nominated for peerages in return for donations to political parties. | Police spent more than a year investigating whether people were nominated for peerages in return for donations to political parties. |
| They initially handed their file to the Crown Prosecution Service in April, but were asked to make further inquiries. | They initially handed their file to the Crown Prosecution Service in April, but were asked to make further inquiries. |
| Mr Blair had been questioned three times by police as a potential witness before he left Downing Street. | Mr Blair had been questioned three times by police as a potential witness before he left Downing Street. |
| He was the first prime minister to be interviewed by police in the course of a criminal inquiry. | He was the first prime minister to be interviewed by police in the course of a criminal inquiry. |