Monday, February 19, 2007

Cash for honours: Blair in the frame

Later (2 March): There is a little more here on the injunction against the BBC.

Labour Watch has this:

This piece originates from the Evening Standard [actually the Daily Mail] on Saturday; although foreign papers have picked up the story, it hasn't received widespread coverage here yet.

Blair to be named in police file over cash for peerages Published: Saturday, 17 February, 2007.

LONDON: Tony Blair will be named in a police file to prosecutors on the cash for peerages affair, the Standard revealed.He remains one of four suspects at the heart of government who are at the centre of the Scotland Yard investigation.

Detectives are believed to have compelling evidence against individuals and are preparing to submit an evidence file to the Crown Prosecution Service which they believe is "110% strong". They realise the inquiry will come under intense scrutiny if it goes to court and the case against any suspects has to be watertight.

The revelations partly explain the lengthy delay in bringing the investigation to a conclusion. Insiders say it is now almost inevitable that police will bring charges against individuals. Detectives are focusing on the so-called Gang of Four they believe to be at the heart of the inquiry.

They are the prime minister, his chief of staff Jonathan Powell, Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy and key Downing Street aide Ruth Turner. Significantly, all four are referred to as "suspects" by sources close to the investigation.

1 comment:

James Graham (Quaequam Blog!) said...

Detectives are believed to have compelling evidence against individuals and are preparing to submit an evidence file to the Crown Prosecution Service which they believe is "110% strong".
It isn't exactly reassuring that the Plods appear to have the numeracy of football managers.