Hat-tip to Liberal Review for alerting me to this snippet from today's New Statesman...
Although the loans-for-peerages débâcle did not play very strongly on the local election campaign trail in comparison to the releases of foreign prisoners, it could become more directly damaging as the police investigation gathers pace. The inquiry has already led to one arrest, which was dismissed in characteristic fashion when it was announced. Nevertheless, those around Blair are becoming deeply worried. One minister said there was a growing sense of irritation within the government that the police had launched an investigation into something that was perhaps improper, but almost certainly not illegal. Giving peerages to party donors is a well-established practice in British politics, he said. However, he too recognised the potency of the case: "Some of it is very politically damaging if it spins out of control with people testifying against each other, and if the investigation reaches Downing Street." Scotland Yard has widened its net, announcing that it has questioned several more people under caution. Worse is to come. The New Statesman has learned that the police inquiry has already thrown up some surprising names that are beginning to cause great alarm in government circles. If, as some believe, the trail is beginning to creep ever closer to No 10, Tony Blair really is a dead man walking.
What can it all mean? My Inbox is ready and waiting...
2 comments:
"something that was perhaps improper, but almost certainly not illegal"
It could be argued that the opposite is true. That handing honours to donors is so common a method of raising money (back at least to the time of Charles II) that it has been de facto part of our constitution. It is just that, for the purpose of being rude to Lloyd George, it was made illegal but nobody ever expected it to be taken seriously.
A bit like the way Stalin insisted on putting the right of Ukraine etc to secede into the Soviet constitution.
Dum dum de dum derrr de dum de dum de dum!
Hark! Is that tumbrills I hear approaching?
All ornaments have been safely packed away and the Hounds of Remittance given tranquilisers in expectation of marathon happy dancing some time in the future.
RM
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