Yates branded 'political problem'

The policeman's investigation into cash for honours convulsed politics like no corruption inquiry before it . Many MPs believe that honours have been traded for political donations for generations, but a police investigation, dawn raids and arrests were not the way to deal with it.

The investigation had brought the first ever police interview with a sitting prime minister as part of a criminal investigation. Police interviewed Tony Blair three times in Downing St and considered interviewing him as a suspect. By the end of their investigations police had broadened their inquiries and were pursuing a possible cover-up.

Assistant Commissioner Yates was asked about claims that the Labour Party and senior Downing St figures had obstructed his investigation.

He revealed that it took nine months of investigation before his team discovered how the list of peers submitted by Tony Blair was chosen.

When asked if politicians had ever tried to lean on him during the investigation, he said: "Yes, there was pressure - improper pressure? No - I don't think so."

Assistant Commissioner Yates said he wouldn't talk in specifics about suspects arrested during the inquiry - like Lord Levy the former Labour fundraiser.

But he did reveal that the diary of businessman Sir Christopher Evans - who'd loaned labour £1m - had aroused his suspicions. The diary was alleged to have recorded conversations between Lord Levy and Sir Christopher.

MPs suggested the dawn arrest of Tony Blair's aide Ruth Turner on suspicion of perverting the course of justice smacked of overkill and desperation.

MPs also suggested that the police had been behind a whole series of leaks about their own inquiry. John Yates said most of these stories came from political or lobby journalists and their stories could not have come from him.

John Yates had let it be known he was dreading this encounter, but he managed to include the obstruction which he thinks slowed down his inquiry without pointing fingers and stirring lawyers into action.

He said the police might in the future mount a similar investigation but there was no way he would be heading it.

Share this article

Send this article to a friend »

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Reddit
• Facebook
• StumbleUpon

What are these?