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| 'Relieved' Levy slams probe leaks | 'Relieved' Levy slams probe leaks |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Labour's former chief fundraiser Lord Levy has spoken of his relief after prosecutors said there would be no charges in the cash-for-honours probe. | Labour's former chief fundraiser Lord Levy has spoken of his relief after prosecutors said there would be no charges in the cash-for-honours probe. |
| Lord Levy, one of four people arrested during the 16-month police inquiry said it had been an "incredibly long and extremely stressful" period. | Lord Levy, one of four people arrested during the 16-month police inquiry said it had been an "incredibly long and extremely stressful" period. |
| He said media leaks had been incorrect, misleading and "personally damaging". | He said media leaks had been incorrect, misleading and "personally damaging". |
| The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed there was insufficient evidence to bring any charges in the case. | The Crown Prosecution Service confirmed there was insufficient evidence to bring any charges in the case. |
| Police interviewed 136 people, including former prime minister Tony Blair and former Conservative leader Michael Howard, during the probe into claims that people were nominated for peerages in return for political loans. | |
| 'Delighted and relieved' | |
| Speaking after the CPS statement Lord Levy said: "I am sincerely delighted and relieved to put this all behind me." | Speaking after the CPS statement Lord Levy said: "I am sincerely delighted and relieved to put this all behind me." |
| He said the decision was a "great relief" and thanked his family, friends and legal team for their support. | He said the decision was a "great relief" and thanked his family, friends and legal team for their support. |
| Having considered all of the evidence in this case I have decided that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction Carmen DowdHead of the CPS Special Crime Division | |
| "For the last 16 months the people closest to me have had to endure the intensity and pressure of this long investigation," he said. | "For the last 16 months the people closest to me have had to endure the intensity and pressure of this long investigation," he said. |
| "We are all relieved it is over." | "We are all relieved it is over." |
| But he said, while he did not want to comment on the police investigation, he had been "disappointed by constant leaks to media." | But he said, while he did not want to comment on the police investigation, he had been "disappointed by constant leaks to media." |
| He said they were "misleading, incorrect and personally damaging to me". | He said they were "misleading, incorrect and personally damaging to me". |
| No prosecutions | |
| Earlier the CPS said there would be no prosecutions over the allegations. | |
| Head of the CPS Special Crime Division Ms Dowd paid tribute to the "diligence and professionalism" of the police officers involved, but said she had consulted colleagues on the decision and they all were in agreement. | Head of the CPS Special Crime Division Ms Dowd paid tribute to the "diligence and professionalism" of the police officers involved, but said she had consulted colleagues on the decision and they all were in agreement. |
| She added: "Having considered all of the evidence in this case I have decided that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against any individual for any offence in relation to this matter." | She added: "Having considered all of the evidence in this case I have decided that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against any individual for any offence in relation to this matter." |
| Prime Minister Gordon Brown has already said police were right to investigate the "very serious allegations" but he hoped the CPS statement would bring an end to "months of speculation". | |
| But some Labour MPs have criticised the police decision to put so much time and effort into the inquiry - prompted by a complaint from the Scottish Nationalist Party MP Angus MacNeil - which they saw as a "political vendetta". | |
| Four people were arrested during the inquiry - Lord Levy, Mr Blair's director of government relations Ruth Turner, former head teacher Des Smith and Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans. | |
| Mr Blair, who was questioned three times as a potential witness, became the first sitting prime minister to be interviewed by police in the course of a criminal inquiry. | |
| He is also expected to issue a statement, as is the man in charge of the police inquiry - Assistant Commissioner John Yates. |