Ouch!

From Lord Levy's Q and A on today's Independent...

Q. Are you still in regular touch with Tony Blair?
A. Yes, though much less than before. Call it a lucky guess, but I'm expecting that trend to accelerate in the wake of my book.

Q. Has your opinion of Cherie Blair changed in recent weeks?
A. Not one iota. Read into that what you will!

Book Review: A Question of Honour by Lord Levy

Reading Lord Levy’s book, I felt a slight sense of shame. Having written some fairly terrible things about him on my blog over the last two years, I expected my opinion of him to be confirmed a thousand times over by his memoirs.

Yet I have to admit, I finished the book wondering if I made a terrible error of judgement. Political autobiography is often said to be a work of fiction about oneself, and maybe this book is no different, and yet I felt a certain honesty pouring out of the pages. Have I been hoodwinked or was I wrong? If I have been hoodwinked, then it’s Levy’s ghostwriter, the brilliant Ned Temko, who has pulled off a coup.

Michael Levy is a self made businessman, from a very poor background. An East London boy who made it good. He makes no bones about enjoying the nicer things in life and admits he’s one of the vainest individuals on the planet. And it is this vanity, I suspect, which has got him into so much trouble in the political world. He liked being feted by high profile celebrities and politicians. It may be a weakness, but I can think of worse.

He became the very symbol of a changed Labour Party. He was shameless in exploiting rich donors and clearly got a kick out of it. He is the most successful political fundraiser since Alistair McAlpine in the 1980s for Margaret Thatcher. The Labour Party may feel bitter towards him for many reasons, but they have more reasons to thank him. Boy, how they could do with him now.

Much of the book revolves around Levy’s jewishness. I learnt more about what it’s like being a jew in Britain, and indeed about the Middle East than I have learnt from any other book. And for that reason alone I have no hesitation in recommending it. There, that’s a surprise, isn’t it? Buy it HERE.

Levy Throws Grenade at "Liar" Brown

I had to laugh when I watched Simon Walters' video interview with Lord Levy, whose memoirs are being serialised in the Mail on Sunday. Levy started the interview by saying...

I have worked day and often night working on this, writing this, writing the book, I thought let's get on with it, let's get on with writing the book.

That's funny. I thought the book was ghost written by The Observer's Ned Temko. Note how during the entire interview Lord Levy never manages to maintain eye contact with Simon. Essentially, Levy hints at some sort of deeper relationship between Carole Caplin and Tony Blair, calls Gordon Brown a "liar" who knew all about the Labour Party loans, and how he ended up being "disappointed" with Tony Blair who was "just another politician in it for himself".

'Fuck Milburn', Said Lord Levy

The first volume of Piers Morgan's Diaries, THE INSIDER, was good enough for me to rank it at Number 5 in my Top Ten Political Diaries list. The follow up, DON'T YOU KNOW WHO I AM has just been published and it's just as juicy. I have just started reading it and will be bringing you some tasters over the next couple of weeks. How about this one for starters. Picture the scene. Piers is at a jewish fundraising dinner at which the Blairs are present. Lord Levy comes over to Morgan's table and the following conversation takes place...

'Hi mate, how are things?' he said cheerily.
'I'm fine thanks, Michael. How's it going your end? I see Milburn's beginning to make a few leadership noises...'
'Fuck Milburn,' said Levy, with a steely glint in his eye. 'If he makes any attempt to make a move on Tony then I will gusrantee that none of the money in this room goes anywhere near him. let's see how he gets on then, shall we.'
I laughed. You'd want Michael Levy on your side, definitely.

Indeed.

Buy The Insider HERE and Don't You Know Who I Am HERE.

Lord Levy Oozes Hypocrisy

Some chicken, some neck, said Winston Churchill. In the case of Lord Levy, it's a brass neck. He today denounced the "prejudiced and distorted view" of the cash-for-honours affair presented by leaks to the media and asked for public sympathy. Get that onion out your pocket before you read this from PA...

A statement from his solicitor said the "current round of articles in the
media... are partial, contradictory, confused and inaccurate". Neil O'May, of
Bindman and Partners, stressed that Lord Levy, Labour's chief fundraiser who has
been questioned by police on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of
justice as well as about possible breaches of honours regulations,
"categorically denies any wrongdoing whatsoever". The statement from Lord Levy's
solicitor also said the "media-style trial" was placing "an intolerable burden"
on the peer and his family. Mr O'May said in his statement: "Lord Levy
categorically denies any wrong-doing whatsoever, as he has throughout this
lengthy police investigation. The current round of articles in the media, which
are said to be based on leaked material under consideration by the police, are
partial, contradictory, confused and inaccurate. There has been a regular stream
of leaks to the media during this year-long investigation, all of which have
presented a prejudiced and distorted view. Cumulatively, these leaks and reports
have created a climate which does not allow for any fair assessment of the
investigation. Any fair-minded person must realise the intolerable burden that
is placed on Lord Levy and his family by this media-style trial when Lord Levy
is unable to defend himself on these matters whilst the police investigation
continues. Lord Levy respects the importance of maintaining the integrity of the
police inquiry and so is unable to comment further at this time."

I think I'll put that onion back in my pocket. I know for a fact that Lord Levy himself briefs various political editors on national newspapers. Like Guido I would caution you to interpret the phrase "friends of Lord Levy" to mean "Lord Levy himself". So in this regard he is being a complete, total and utter hypocrite. I suppose I should not be surprised.

Levy Named in Cash for Honours Memo

Shocking revelations HERE in tomorrow's Guardian. Ruth Turner is alleging that Lord Levy asked her to change her evidence to the Police Inquiry. This is at the heart of the document (not email) which the Police are investigating. The fact that this is appearing in The Guardian will lend more weight to those who believe it is in Downing Street's interest for this to be in the public domain.

EXCLUSIVE: Has the Government Gagged the Beeb?

There is a strong rumour tonight that the government (or maybe it's the Labour Party) has tonight taken out an injunction against the BBC to prevent the reporting of something substantive regarding the Cash for Honours Inquiry. As I am in Washington I cannot take advice on what I am able to say about this or not. But something is going on. I will put comment moderation back on. If anyone has any info, please leave a comment or email me privately.