AFP: Cash-for-honours scandal closes in on Blair

[Eugene]

Cash-for-honours scandal closes in on Blair

by Michael Thurston Wed Nov 8, 7:23 PM ET

LONDON (AFP) - A probe into damaging cash-for-honours charges closed
in on Prime Minister Tony Blair, as it emerged that police had contacted
every member of his cabinet except the Labour leader over the affair.

Chancellor Gordon Brown was the first reported to have received a letter
seeking explanation of his role in the simmering scandal, which allegedly
saw huge payments in return for formal titles, or peerages.

But the mystery deepened later in the day after party sources said that
every member of Blair's government had also heard from detectives asking
what they knew about crucial donations to the funds of the ruling Labour
Party.

-snip-

Another official added: "What the police are seeking to establish is whether
Downing Street (Blair's office) deliberately concealed details of the peerage
nominations from senior members of the Labour Party."

-snip-

Full article: http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20061109/wl_uk_afp/britainpolitics

Related thread: Killer e-mail sends Blair into panic over cash for honours row

[McKenzie]

1. It was discussed on Radio Scotland this morning

I only caught bits of the story whilst making tea so I can't relate exactly what was said.

If he is interviewed under Criminal Caution he would be mortally wounded imo even if charges are not eventually laid against him. Apparently, the last UK PM to be interviewed under Criminal Caution was Lloyd George.

Difficult to be certain as to what's going on. I suspect there are parallels with events in the US such as the outing of Foley and Haggard that helped to eventually pull the rug from under GWB's feet. BLiar is deeply unpopular amongst those elements of his own party who feel he has betrayed the ideals of the Labour movement so the vigour with which this case is being pursued might be more than just the result of a persistent copper's zeal.

The irony of a Labour PM cozying up to a neocon such as GWB...sheesh...shame on all of us Brits.

edit: spelling - agen - and also for context