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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Blair interviewed again by police | Blair interviewed again by police |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has been questioned for a second time by police investigating cash-for-honours allegations. | Tony Blair has been questioned for a second time by police investigating cash-for-honours allegations. |
| Downing Street disclosed the interview, which lasted 45 minutes, took place in No 10 last Friday and was kept secret at the request of the Met Police. | Downing Street disclosed the interview, which lasted 45 minutes, took place in No 10 last Friday and was kept secret at the request of the Met Police. |
| The prime minister was first questioned as a witness in December. | The prime minister was first questioned as a witness in December. |
| Police are investigating whether money was donated to political parties in exchange for honours. All involved in the claims have denied any wrongdoing. | Police are investigating whether money was donated to political parties in exchange for honours. All involved in the claims have denied any wrongdoing. |
| Mr Blair's official spokesman said Mr Blair was questioned as a possible witness but would not discuss the contents of the conversation. | Mr Blair's official spokesman said Mr Blair was questioned as a possible witness but would not discuss the contents of the conversation. |
| A civil service note-taker was present, but no lawyer, as the prime minister was not interviewed under caution. | A civil service note-taker was present, but no lawyer, as the prime minister was not interviewed under caution. |
| The spokesman said he did not know whether Mr Blair would face further questions, saying that was a matter entirely for the police. | The spokesman said he did not know whether Mr Blair would face further questions, saying that was a matter entirely for the police. |
| Question time | Question time |
| On Tuesday Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy, who is also Mr Blair's Middle East envoy, was arrested for a second time by police investigating the claims. | On Tuesday Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy, who is also Mr Blair's Middle East envoy, was arrested for a second time by police investigating the claims. |
| This time he was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. | This time he was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. |
| It followed the arrest just over a week earlier of Downing Street aide Ruth Turner on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. | It followed the arrest just over a week earlier of Downing Street aide Ruth Turner on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. |
| We're told the interview was kept secret at the police's request BBC political editor Nick Robinson class="" href="http://blogs.bbc.co.uk/nickrobinson/2007/02/secret_intervie.html">Read Nick's thoughts in full Neither were charged but it has sparked speculation that the police had not been given all the information they needed. | |
| At prime minister's questions on Wednesday, SNP leader Alex Salmond asked Mr Blair: "Is there a cover-up in Downing Street?" | At prime minister's questions on Wednesday, SNP leader Alex Salmond asked Mr Blair: "Is there a cover-up in Downing Street?" |
| Mr Blair told MPs that for "obvious reasons" he could not make any comment about the police inquiry. | Mr Blair told MPs that for "obvious reasons" he could not make any comment about the police inquiry. |
| Other members of Mr Blair's inner circle to have spoken to the honours police team include his director of political operations John McTernan, who has been interviewed twice, and his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell. | Other members of Mr Blair's inner circle to have spoken to the honours police team include his director of political operations John McTernan, who has been interviewed twice, and his chief of staff, Jonathan Powell. |
| Widened | Widened |
| The secrecy of the interview was such that Mr Blair's official spokesman and the whole press team at Number 10 did not know the interview had taken place, the spokesman said. | The secrecy of the interview was such that Mr Blair's official spokesman and the whole press team at Number 10 did not know the interview had taken place, the spokesman said. |
| This would explain why the official spokesman had told journalists at the daily lobby briefings this week there had been "no change" in the investigation. | This would explain why the official spokesman had told journalists at the daily lobby briefings this week there had been "no change" in the investigation. |
| The inquiry last spring after it emerged that a number of large secret loans had been made to the Labour Party before the 2005 general election, and that some of those lenders had subsequently been nominated for peerages. | The inquiry last spring after it emerged that a number of large secret loans had been made to the Labour Party before the 2005 general election, and that some of those lenders had subsequently been nominated for peerages. |
| It has since widened to cover the other main parties - former Conservative leader Michael Howard is among those questioned. | It has since widened to cover the other main parties - former Conservative leader Michael Howard is among those questioned. |
| The scope of the inquiry also appears to have widened from the original laws against selling honours, to whether any offence of perverting the course of justice has been committed during the police inquiry. | The scope of the inquiry also appears to have widened from the original laws against selling honours, to whether any offence of perverting the course of justice has been committed during the police inquiry. |
| Four people have been arrested - Lord Levy, Downing Street adviser Ruth Turner, Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans and head teacher Des Smith, who was involved in the government's City Academy programme. | Four people have been arrested - Lord Levy, Downing Street adviser Ruth Turner, Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans and head teacher Des Smith, who was involved in the government's City Academy programme. |
| About 90 people have been interviewed so far. No one has been charged and all involved deny any wrongdoing. | About 90 people have been interviewed so far. No one has been charged and all involved deny any wrongdoing. |