This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6907594.stm
The article has changed 18 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| No charges on 'cash for honours' | No charges on 'cash for honours' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| No-one is to face charges after the 16-month cash-for-honours police inquiry, the BBC understands. | No-one is to face charges after the 16-month cash-for-honours police inquiry, the BBC understands. |
| 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 former prime minister Tony Blair. All denied any wrongdoing. | Police interviewed 136 people, including former prime minister Tony Blair. All denied any wrongdoing. |
| SNP MP Angus MacNeil, whose complaint prompted the investigation, said the outcome was "quite extraordinary". | SNP MP Angus MacNeil, whose complaint prompted the investigation, said the outcome was "quite extraordinary". |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson says Scotland Yard is preparing to make a public defence of its officers. | |
| They are bound to face fierce criticism for dragging out their inquiries for so long yet failing to produce a result, he adds. | |
| Serious allegations | Serious allegations |
| Assistant Commissioner John Yates of the Metropolitan Police - who headed up the inquiry - 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 inquiry - has said from the outset his officers were simply doing their jobs by investigating serious allegations. |
| He was backed by Chris Fox, a former president of the Association of Chief Police Officers, who told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I'm confident that John Yates and his team will have done everything they possibly could to get to the bottom of the allegations. | |
| Now it seems the CPS are trying to tell us it's all a wild goose chase Angus MacNeil MP Nick Robinson's blog Political reaction | Now it seems the CPS are trying to tell us it's all a wild goose chase Angus MacNeil MP Nick Robinson's blog Political reaction |
| "When someone makes an allegation like that the police service have to take it seriously." | "When someone makes an allegation like that the police service have to take it seriously." |
| The Crown Prosecution Service is set to announce its decision on Friday but has so far refused to comment. | The Crown Prosecution Service is set to announce its decision on Friday but has so far refused to comment. |
| But Downing Street adviser John McTernan told the BBC: "It's a massive relief for everybody involved in this that at last a line can be drawn under it." | But Downing Street adviser John McTernan told the BBC: "It's a massive relief for everybody involved in this that at last a line can be drawn under it." |
| Arrests made | Arrests made |
| 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. |
| 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. |
| Mr Blair, who was questioned three times as a potential witness, became the first prime minister to be interviewed by police in the course of a criminal inquiry. | Mr Blair, who was questioned three times as a potential witness, became the first prime minister to be interviewed by police in the course of a criminal inquiry. |
| This whole affair has diminished politics and politicians in the eyes of the public Sir Menzies CampbellLiberal Democrat leader Q&A: Cash-for-honours | This whole affair has diminished politics and politicians in the eyes of the public Sir Menzies CampbellLiberal Democrat leader Q&A: Cash-for-honours |
| Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil, who made the original complaint to Scotland Yard, told BBC Two's Newsnight the outcome of the investigation was "quite extraordinary". | Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil, who made the original complaint to Scotland Yard, told BBC Two's Newsnight the outcome of the investigation was "quite extraordinary". |
| He said: "We've had an investigation going on for the past 16 months, there have been 6,300 documents at the end of that given by the Yard to the Crown Prosecution Service. | He said: "We've had an investigation going on for the past 16 months, there have been 6,300 documents at the end of that given by the Yard to the Crown Prosecution Service. |
| "The Yard liaised with the CPS through all this, and now it seems the CPS are trying to tell us it's all a wild goose chase." | "The Yard liaised with the CPS through all this, and now it seems the CPS are trying to tell us it's all a wild goose chase." |
| 'Politically instigated' | 'Politically instigated' |
| Labour MP and former minister Denis MacShane, who has long been critical of the inquiry, said: "This was always a politically instigated investigation, launched by the Scottish National Party". | Labour MP and former minister Denis MacShane, who has long been critical of the inquiry, said: "This was always a politically instigated investigation, launched by the Scottish National Party". |
| Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the whole affair had "diminished politics and politicians in the eyes of the public". | Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said the whole affair had "diminished politics and politicians in the eyes of the public". |
| It's done great damage to our political system Tony Wright MP | It's done great damage to our political system Tony Wright MP |
| "Never again must there be any question of any link between preferment and financial support." | "Never again must there be any question of any link between preferment and financial support." |
| Labour MP Tony Wright, chairman of the Public Administration Committee, told the BBC the investigation had been a "disaster for the police and a disaster for the political system". | Labour MP Tony Wright, chairman of the Public Administration Committee, told the BBC the investigation had been a "disaster for the police and a disaster for the political system". |
| He added: "It's done great damage to our political system. Our system is fundamentally clean. It needs eternal vigilance but basically political issues need to be resolved by the political system." | He added: "It's done great damage to our political system. Our system is fundamentally clean. It needs eternal vigilance but basically political issues need to be resolved by the political system." |