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| Inquiry outcome 'extraordinary' | Inquiry outcome 'extraordinary' |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The MP whose complaint prompted the cash-for-honours investigation has described the decision not to prosecute anyone as "quite extraordinary". | The MP whose complaint prompted the cash-for-honours investigation has described the decision not to prosecute anyone as "quite extraordinary". |
| Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil told BBC Scotland he was keen to know exactly what information had been handed over by Scotland Yard. | Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil told BBC Scotland he was keen to know exactly what information had been handed over by Scotland Yard. |
| He pointed out that during the 16-month inquiry, more than 6,300 documents were given to the Crown Prosecution Service. | He pointed out that during the 16-month inquiry, more than 6,300 documents were given to the Crown Prosecution Service. |
| He said it "seemed strange" that the investigation had "come to nothing". | He said it "seemed strange" that the investigation had "come to nothing". |
| Four people - including two aides of former prime minister Tony Blair - were arrested during inquiries into whether honours were sold and whether a cover-up ensued. | Four people - including two aides of former prime minister Tony Blair - were arrested during inquiries into whether honours were sold and whether a cover-up ensued. |
| Police interviewed 136 people, including Mr Blair and all denied any wrongdoing. | Police interviewed 136 people, including Mr Blair and all denied any wrongdoing. |
| Downing Street adviser John McTernan told the BBC that the lack of any prosecutions showed that the UK Government had been vindicated. | Downing Street adviser John McTernan told the BBC that the lack of any prosecutions showed that the UK Government had been vindicated. |
| The difficulty with a nod and wink culture is finding anything tangible for the police or indeed a prosecution Angus MacNeilSNP MP class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6907594.stm">No 'cash-for-honours' charges | |
| Western Isles MP Mr MacNeil told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The link that was obvious between cash and honours might not be so obvious in future. | Western Isles MP Mr MacNeil told the BBC's Good Morning Scotland programme: "The link that was obvious between cash and honours might not be so obvious in future. |
| "We will have to wait and see what information comes out. | "We will have to wait and see what information comes out. |
| "The big question I would like answered is what exactly the police recommended when they handed their documentation over. | "The big question I would like answered is what exactly the police recommended when they handed their documentation over. |
| "The difficulty with a nod and wink culture is finding anything tangible for the police or indeed a prosecution." | "The difficulty with a nod and wink culture is finding anything tangible for the police or indeed a prosecution." |
| Mr MacNeil added that throughout the investigation there had been a "political cultural change". | Mr MacNeil added that throughout the investigation there had been a "political cultural change". |
| "Going hand in hand with that is the fact that the main political parties, while maintaining the fiction that there is no link between cash and honours, are in the last 16 months saying the public have to fund political parties, and that is during a period that the money has dried up," he said. | "Going hand in hand with that is the fact that the main political parties, while maintaining the fiction that there is no link between cash and honours, are in the last 16 months saying the public have to fund political parties, and that is during a period that the money has dried up," he said. |
| "Coincidence, perhaps, but I'll leave the public to decide." | "Coincidence, perhaps, but I'll leave the public to decide." |