Blair questioned by police
Writing about web page http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6179911.stm
Tony Blair has been questioned by police in relation to the “cash for honours” probe. It was not under caution and he did not have a lawyer present. He was questioned (according to BBC News) as a witness and not as a suspect. Questioning a current prime minister in relation to a criminal investigation, however, is an unprecedented move.
The outcome of this investigation could be very interesting. I have never seen a criminal investigation in which the government is so involved.
14 Dec 2006 16:25
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Tags: Blair Cash For Peerages
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The most disturbing outcome of this event is the very ‘coincidental’ move by the Attorney General to cease the investigation in alleged bribes surrounding arms deals with Saudi Arabia. The phrase ‘good day to bury bad news’ comes to mind.
Just as an aside, I have never seen an investigation in which the opposition is so involved either. Nothing like a cross bench scandal for everyone to realise the state in which the British political system finds itself.
14 Dec 2006, 20:12
you are right Scott, although I think that this is part of the problem with our system – the Attorney General can decide to push these cases on or not, and he could still decide that there is no case either in the cash for peerages investigation, and then even if he does decide to proceed then the Lord Chancellor can decide to judge the case…
You mention the opposition being involved, that doesn’t really seem to ring true with the front bench. Cameron has had pretty much nothing to do with this either way, although his ideas on how to reform the system seems to make a lot of sense to me. The police did talk to Howard but as he said at the time it was purely as a witness. I think that this scandal isn’t just limited to Blair on the Labour side, I’d be amazed if Brown wasn’t in it up to his eye-balls… it could get messy.
Maybe Cameron has just been lucky, maybe he would have been on the make as much as the Labour party has… I guess if sensible rules get introduced we might never know, but I have a feeling he might not be that sort.
14 Dec 2006, 22:02
Hero
I think it is interesting that the BBC journos are trying to say that this proves the government is ignoring the rule of law, whilst simultaneously failing to notice that it is the government’s respect for the rule of law that allows us to have policemen that can interview (and even arrest if they want) the current prime minister.
15 Dec 2006, 09:11
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