This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6124052.stm

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 3 Version 4
Goldsmith 'will not stand aside' Goldsmith 'will not stand aside'
(39 minutes later)
The government's legal adviser has said he will not stand aside from the legal process if charges are brought over the cash for honours probe. The attorney general has said he will not stand aside from the legal process over whether any charges are brought in the "cash for honours" inquiry.
But Lord Goldsmith said he would take independent advice on whether any prosecutions should be brought. Lord Goldsmith, an ally of Tony Blair, said he had a legal duty to give his consent to prosecute in some cases.
The peer, a friend and political ally of Tony Blair, has come under pressure from opposition parties to step aside. But,if consulted on this case, he would take independent advice on whether to bring a prosecution, he said.
Shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve told the BBC he was satisfied with Lord Goldsmith's response. The Tories are "satisfied" with the response, but the Lib Dems and the SNP said it did not go far enough.
Dual roleDual role
The attorney general has a ministerial role as the government's chief legal adviser, but is also head of prosecutions and guardian of the public interest. The attorney general has a ministerial role as the government's chief legal adviser, but is also head of prosecutions.
He is usually consulted by the Crown Prosecution Service over high-profile and particularly complex cases and has to give formal consent to proceedings for a small number of offences, including corruption. He is usually consulted by the Crown Prosecution Service on high-profile and complex cases.
In these circumstances, he is meant to determine whether it is "in the public interest" to proceed. And he gives formal consent to proceedings for a small number of offences, including corruption, where he determines whether it is "in the public interest" to continue.
We will see whether this will silence the critics BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full We will see whether this will silence the critics BBC political editor Nick Robinson Read Nick's thoughts in full
In a letter to Mr Grieve, Lord Goldsmith said: "There have been suggestions that I should stand aside from any involvement in this case. However, it would not be right for me to do that." But Lord Goldsmith has come under pressure from opposition parties, who say he is too close to the prime minister and the government to rule himself out of involvement.
But he added it was normal practice for independent counsel to advise in "sensitive or difficult cases". Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald, a former colleague of Cherie Blair, and Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair, have decided to stand aside from decisions related to the investigation.
"Accordingly, if the CPS consult me on a prosecution in this case, I propose that my office should appoint independent senior counsel to review all the relevant material and advise on any prosecutions." But, in a letter to shadow attorney general Dominic Grieve, Lord Goldsmith said: "There have been suggestions that I should stand aside from any involvement in this case. However, it would not be right for me to do that."
He said the need for his consent in certain cases was an "essential legal condition" and could not be avoided.
But he added: "If the CPS consult me on a prosecution in this case, I propose that my office should appoint independent senior counsel to review all the relevant material and advise on any prosecutions."
Demands for clarityDemands for clarity
He also said, if the decision was taken not to prosecute, he would make sure the reasons were explained to "give greater confidence in the objectivity and impartiality of any decision".
Police are investigating whether people have been nominated for honours in exchange for giving donations or loans to political parties.Police are investigating whether people have been nominated for honours in exchange for giving donations or loans to political parties.
Although a large number of people have so far been questioned by police, no-one has been charged. No-one has been charged, but a large number of people have been questioned by police.
Mr Blair and everyone else involved have denied any wrongdoing.Mr Blair and everyone else involved have denied any wrongdoing.
I'm satisfied with that answer and it's the answer which I expected to get Dominic GrieveShadow attorney general Justice can only be done and be seen to be done if nobody with a political role plays any decisive part in any investigation, charge or trial. Simon HughesLib Dems Mr Grieve later told the BBC he was satisfied with the letter he had received from Lord Goldsmith.
Demands for clarity over Lord Goldsmith's position have increased following the decisions of Director of Public Prosecutions Ken Macdonald - a former colleague of Cherie Blair - and the Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, Sir Ian Blair, to stand aside from decisions related to the investigation. He accepted the attorney general could not abandon his constitutional responsibility, but said he could offer reassurances the matter would be dealt with "through advice of an impartial and distinguished, senior lawyer".
But Lord Goldsmith has previously declined to comment other than to promise to act in the "interests of justice". He added: "I'm satisfied with that answer and it's the answer which I expected to get"
Mr Grieve later told the BBC he was satisfied with the letter he had received from Lord Goldsmith. For the Lib Dems, Simon Hughes said it was a "step in the right direction", but was not "clean cut" enough. He said Lord Goldsmith's role should be no more than to formally confirm the advice of independent counsel.
"The attorney does have a constitutional responsibility which he can't simply abandon and therefore in those circumstances he can't say: 'I'm going to have nothing to do with this matter'. "The cash for peerages investigations go to the heart of the integrity of government," he said.
"But what he can do is to provide reassurance to the public that it will be dealt with through advice of an impartial and distinguished, senior lawyer and will then be presented to him. I'm satisfied with that answer and it's the answer which I expected to get" "Justice can only be done and be seen to be done if nobody with a political role plays any decisive part in any investigation, charge or trial."
Meanwhile SNP MP Angus MacNeil, whose complaint to police sparked the cash-for-honours inquiry, said the letter was "a fudge" and "not good enough".