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/5365394.stm
The article has changed 15 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 7 | Version 8 |
|---|---|
| Biotech boss quizzed over honours | Biotech boss quizzed over honours |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Biotech entrepreneur Sir Christopher Evans was the third man arrested over "cash for honours" allegations. | Biotech entrepreneur Sir Christopher Evans was the third man arrested over "cash for honours" allegations. |
| Sir Christopher was questioned on Wednesday at a police station outside London, before being released on bail. | Sir Christopher was questioned on Wednesday at a police station outside London, before being released on bail. |
| He founded Merlin Biosciences in 1996 and has more than 25 years' experience in life sciences. | He founded Merlin Biosciences in 1996 and has more than 25 years' experience in life sciences. |
| Officers have also interviewed Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy, who denies any wrongdoing, for a second time in London and he has been bailed. | Officers have also interviewed Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy, who denies any wrongdoing, for a second time in London and he has been bailed. |
| Lord Levy was initially arrested on 12 July and interviewed by officers from Scotland Yard. | Lord Levy was initially arrested on 12 July and interviewed by officers from Scotland Yard. |
| Lord Levy's spokesman said on Wednesday: "Lord Levy returned as requested to meet the police today to help them with their ongoing investigation." | Lord Levy's spokesman said on Wednesday: "Lord Levy returned as requested to meet the police today to help them with their ongoing investigation." |
| Low-profile Levy | Low-profile Levy |
| When he was first arrested there were calls for him to be sacked from his role as Mr Blair's personal representative in the Middle East, despite not having been charged with any offence. | When he was first arrested there were calls for him to be sacked from his role as Mr Blair's personal representative in the Middle East, despite not having been charged with any offence. |
| And there had been widespread speculation that the prime minister himself may face questioning. | And there had been widespread speculation that the prime minister himself may face questioning. |
| Of Lord Levy, Prime Minister Tony Blair's official spokesman said he remained "a valued adviser to the Prime Minister on the Middle East". | |
| Police are investigating whether anyone has been nominated for honours in return for making donations, or giving loans to political parties. | Police are investigating whether anyone has been nominated for honours in return for making donations, or giving loans to political parties. |
| Sir Christopher Evans was one of the millionaires who gave secret loans to Labour in the run-up to the 2005 election, although he was not known to be on the list of people who were nominated for peerages. | Sir Christopher Evans was one of the millionaires who gave secret loans to Labour in the run-up to the 2005 election, although he was not known to be on the list of people who were nominated for peerages. |
| The Prime Minister's spokesman said he refused to "give any running commentary" on Sir Christopher. | |
| First arrest | First arrest |
| Lord Levy was the second person to be arrested in connection with the inquiry. | Lord Levy was the second person to be arrested in connection with the inquiry. |
| Head teacher Des Smith, who was arrested and bailed in April, was the first. | Head teacher Des Smith, who was arrested and bailed in April, was the first. |
| Mr Smith was on the council of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT), which helped find sponsorship for city academies. | Mr Smith was on the council of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT), which helped find sponsorship for city academies. |
| He resigned from the trust after allegedly telling an undercover Sunday Times reporter it was typical for people who made donations to the project to get an honour. | He resigned from the trust after allegedly telling an undercover Sunday Times reporter it was typical for people who made donations to the project to get an honour. |
| The trust, which was set up in September 2005, helps the government recruit education sponsors and its president is Lord Levy. | The trust, which was set up in September 2005, helps the government recruit education sponsors and its president is Lord Levy. |
| The allegations of wrong-doing have been denied by all involved. | The allegations of wrong-doing have been denied by all involved. |