Scotland Yard gets involved in loan scandal

The Police are investigating the Labour party due to three complaints. As the BBC reports (hidden under a seperate headline):

"The investigation will focus on alleged breaches of the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925, to see whether honours were given by Labour in return for loans or donations. A spokeswoman confirmed that three complaints had been received against the party, including one from Scottish National MP Angus McNeil. Another was made by Elfyn Llwyd, parliamentary leader of Plaid Cymru."

As Guido reported earlier, Angus McNeil had written a letter to Sir Ian Blair last week:

"The body of evidence in the Sunday Times dossier is incredibly damning. With 80 pence in every £1 going donated to the Labour party by individuals comes from people who have been honoured. Every donor who has given the party more than £1 million has been given a knighthood or a peerage."

The very fact that the police have reason to investigate is what will stick in the mind of voters. Before their election, the Canadian Liberal party was rocked by scandals thanks to the conservative netroots. The big one was the Income Trust Scandal, which broke online, in which the Mounties investigated and despite finding "no evidence of wrongdoing or illegal activity", irreparable damage was done to voter's perceptions.

Deputy Editor

Comments

[Ted]

It almost makes your heart warm to those squeaky clean Nationalists.

As long as we get pics of Blair going into No 10 to question Blair, Lord Levy visting Scotland Yard....

Perhaps if there is a case an ASBO would be suitable (as well as the ban from public office)

[Selsdon Man]

It is highly appropriate that Alan B'stard is a New Labour cabinet member in the new "New Stateman" play that is about to start touring. Rik Mayall, as B'stard, looks like Peter Hain in the publicity shots.

[shaunshm]

Surely Cameron will have to use this scandal at PMQs tomorrow...the best line of attack is to paint Blair as a hypocrite. New Labour is institutionally corrupt, but pretend to be 'whiter than white and 'purer than pure' etc.
Cameron has to show leadership and not shy away from this issue.

[Andrew]

Problem is Blair will have a briefing pack listing Tory donors subsequently enobled under the Major/Thatcher govts (let's face it, they've all been at it). Cameron is pretty much untainted personally by the whole mess so far, so will not want that retaliation to damage him by association.

[Chad]

Indeed, Blair need only reply: "There is only one party still hiding the source of its loans, and it is not Labour or the LibDems."

Good to see Tories like Dominic Grieve breaking ranks and calling for full disclosure. Well done to him.