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| Blair 'pleased' at honours ruling | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Tony Blair has said he is "very pleased" that the cash-for-honours inquiry is over, saying those involved had been through a "traumatic time" | |
| The former PM was responding to the decision not to bring any charges following a 16-month police inquiry. | |
| John Yates, who headed the probe, said he went where the evidence took him and it would not have taken so long if cover-up allegations had not been made. | |
| Mr Blair said the inquiry ended "as I always expected it would". | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Earlier the Crown Prosecution Service confirmed that there was "insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against any individual" and no charges would be brought. | |
| In an unusual move, the CPS released a document explaining the reasons it did not bring charges. | In an unusual move, the CPS released a document explaining the reasons it did not bring charges. |
| CPS DECISION IN FULL Cash-for-honours case [55.4 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here | CPS DECISION IN FULL Cash-for-honours case [55.4 KB] Most computers will open this document automatically, but you may need Adobe Reader Download the reader here |
| It says: "For a case to proceed, the prosecution must have a realistic prospect of being able to prove that the two people agreed that the gift, etc, was in exchange for an honour. | It says: "For a case to proceed, the prosecution must have a realistic prospect of being able to prove that the two people agreed that the gift, etc, was in exchange for an honour. |
| "Such an agreement might be proved either by direct evidence, or by inferences that can be drawn from the circumstances of the case. | "Such an agreement might be proved either by direct evidence, or by inferences that can be drawn from the circumstances of the case. |
| "Such inferences must be so strong as to overwhelm any other, innocent, inferences that might be drawn from the same circumstances. | "Such inferences must be so strong as to overwhelm any other, innocent, inferences that might be drawn from the same circumstances. |
| "There is no direct evidence of any such agreement between any two people subject of this investigation." | "There is no direct evidence of any such agreement between any two people subject of this investigation." |
| 'Delighted and relieved' | 'Delighted and relieved' |
| Speaking after the CPS statement Labour's former chief fundraiser Lord Levy, one of four people arrested, 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 | 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 | No prosecutions |
| Head of the CPS Special Crime Division Carmen 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 Carmen 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". | 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". | 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. | 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. | 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. |