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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Milburn quizzed in honours probe | Milburn quizzed in honours probe |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Ex-minister and 2005 Labour election supremo Alan Milburn has revealed he was interviewed by police investigating the cash-for-honours affair. | Ex-minister and 2005 Labour election supremo Alan Milburn has revealed he was interviewed by police investigating the cash-for-honours affair. |
| Gordon Brown and John Prescott have also been contacted about the loans made before the 2005 election. | Gordon Brown and John Prescott have also been contacted about the loans made before the 2005 election. |
| They are among a large number of the 2005 Cabinet to be asked to reveal "formally in writing" what they knew. | They are among a large number of the 2005 Cabinet to be asked to reveal "formally in writing" what they knew. |
| Police are investigating whether donors received honours in return for cash. All involved deny wrong-doing. | Police are investigating whether donors received honours in return for cash. All involved deny wrong-doing. |
| The police stressed I was not a suspect, and the interview did not take place under caution Alan Milburn | The police stressed I was not a suspect, and the interview did not take place under caution Alan Milburn |
| In a statement, Mr Milburn said: "Following a request from the police, I have been interviewed as a witness. | In a statement, Mr Milburn said: "Following a request from the police, I have been interviewed as a witness. |
| "The police stressed I was not a suspect, and the interview did not take place under caution." | "The police stressed I was not a suspect, and the interview did not take place under caution." |
| It now appears that many, if not all, of the members of the Cabinet at around the time of the 2005 general election, apart from Tony Blair, have received letters from or been contacted in some other way by detectives. | |
| Written declaration | Written declaration |
| As well as Mr Brown and Mr Prescott, these are known to include Jack Straw, John Reid, Patricia Hewitt, David Milliband, Alan Johnson, Peter Hain and Ruth Kelly. | As well as Mr Brown and Mr Prescott, these are known to include Jack Straw, John Reid, Patricia Hewitt, David Milliband, Alan Johnson, Peter Hain and Ruth Kelly. |
| They have been asked to declare in writing what they knew about loans worth £14m made to the party. | They have been asked to declare in writing what they knew about loans worth £14m made to the party. |
| Those receiving the letter were also reportedly asked what they knew about the subsequent nomination of lenders for peerages. | Those receiving the letter were also reportedly asked what they knew about the subsequent nomination of lenders for peerages. |
| Labour sources say Mr Brown knew nothing about the loans | Labour sources say Mr Brown knew nothing about the loans |
| The Scotland Yard officer in charge of the investigation, John Yates, has previously told MPs that "you go where the evidence takes you". | The Scotland Yard officer in charge of the investigation, John Yates, has previously told MPs that "you go where the evidence takes you". |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said it was for this reason that friends of Prime Minister Tony Blair expect him to be interviewed - possibly under caution - in the weeks to come. | BBC political editor Nick Robinson said it was for this reason that friends of Prime Minister Tony Blair expect him to be interviewed - possibly under caution - in the weeks to come. |
| However, they insist Mr Blair has had no contact with the police as yet. | However, they insist Mr Blair has had no contact with the police as yet. |
| Police are thought to have spoken to, or contacted, more than 50 people, including some of Mr Blair's closest advisers, and, from the Conservative side, former leader Michael Howard. | Police are thought to have spoken to, or contacted, more than 50 people, including some of Mr Blair's closest advisers, and, from the Conservative side, former leader Michael Howard. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Attorney General Lord Goldsmith - who attends Cabinet and who is close to Mr Blair - on Tuesday said he would not stand aside from the process but promised to act "in the interests of justice". | Attorney General Lord Goldsmith - who attends Cabinet and who is close to Mr Blair - on Tuesday said he would not stand aside from the process but promised to act "in the interests of justice". |