NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Cash for peerages

Cash for Peerages (also Loans for Peerages, Cash for Honours, Loans for Honours) is the name given by some in the media to a political scandal in the United Kingdom in 2006 and 2007 concerning the connection between political donations and the award of life peerages. This is not the first time cash for peerages has been a problem in the politics of the United Kingdom. Most famously it featured during the early-20th-century Premiership of David Lloyd George. The British monarch or Sovereign is the head of state of the United Kingdom and in the British overseas territories. ... Elizabeth II (Elizabeth Alexandra Mary Windsor; born 21 April 1926) is Queen of sixteen sovereign states, holding each crown and title equally. ... The Houses of Parliament, as seen over Westminster Bridge The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom and British overseas territories. ... 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In March 2006, several men nominated for life peerages by the Prime Minister, Tony Blair, were rejected by the House of Lords Appointments Commission. It was later revealed they had loaned large amounts of money to the governing Labour Party,^[1] at the suggestion of Labour fundraiser Lord Levy. Suspicion was aroused by some that the peerages were a quid pro quo for the loans, and the incident was referred to the Metropolitan Police by Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil as a breach of the law against selling honours.^[2] Since then various members of Labour, the Conservatives and the Liberal Democrats have been questioned, and Labour's Lord Levy has been arrested and later released on bail. For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... In the United Kingdom, Life Peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles may not be inherited (those whose titles are inheritable are known as hereditary peers). ... The Labour Party has been, since its founding in the early 20th century, the principal political party of the left in England, Scotland and Wales. ... Lord Levy greeting Tony Blair at a fundraising function (from BBC News) Michael Abraham Levy, Baron Levy (born 11 July 1944) is a Labour member of the British House of Lords and the major fundraiser for the UK Labour Party party and several Jewish and Israeli charities. ... Quid pro quo (Latin for something for something [1]) indicates a more-or-less equal exchange or substitution of goods or services. ... Metropolitan Police redirects here. ... The Scottish National Party (SNP) (Scottish Gaelic: is a centre-left political party which campaigns for Scottish independence. ... This is a list of Scottish National Party MPs. ... Angus Brendan MacNeil (born July 21, 1970) is the Scottish National Party Member of Parliament for Na h-Eileanan an Iar. ... The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals personal bravery, achievement, or service to the United Kingdom. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Chicago Police Department arrests a man An arrest is the action of the police, or person acting under the law, to take a person into custody so that they may be forthcoming to answer for the commission of a crime. ... The word bail as a legal term means: Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that persons appearance for trial. ...

A recent quirk of electoral law in the United Kingdom meant that although anyone donating even small sums of money to a political party had to declare this as a matter of public record, those loaning money, even for an indefinite period, did not have to make a public declaration. Since the scandal has been unveiled, the Labour party has had to repay these loans and is now in considerable debt.^[3] This is a list of political parties in the United Kingdom. ...

On March 2, 2007 the Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, obtained an injunction against the BBC, preventing the organisation from reporting a story they claimed was in the public interest. ^[4] The injunction was sought at the request of the police, with the Attorney General taking no political role. On March 5, 2007 the injunction against the BBC was modified. While still barred from revealing the content, it was able to confirm that the document that triggered the investigation into an alleged Downing Street cover-up was sent by Number 10 aide Ruth Turner. It had been sent to Tony Blair's chief of staff, Jonathan Powell and concerned Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy.^[5] March 2 is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Her Majestys Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known as the Attorney General, is the chief legal adviser of the Crown in England and Wales. ... Peter Henry Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith, PC, is the current Attorney General of England and Wales. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (65th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Background

Historically, hereditary peerages were awarded to members of the landowning aristocracy and royal favourites. In the late 19th century, peerages began to be awarded to industrialists with increasing frequency. Well-substantiated allegations that titles were sold during David Lloyd George's Prime Ministership led to the passing of the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925. In the second half of the 20th century the granting of hereditary peerages, other than to members of the Royal Family, virtually ceased, giving way to life peerages, which have been granted since the passing of the Life Peerages Act 1958. They are given to a wide range of individuals on the recommendation of the leaders of the major British political parties, including opposition parties. Forms of government Part of the Politics series Politics Portal This box: The term aristocracy refers to a form of government where power is hereditary, and split between a small number of families. ... David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor, OM, PC (17 January 1863 â€“ 26 March 1945) was a British statesman who guided Britain and the British Empire through World War I and the postwar settlement as the Liberal Party Prime Minister, 1916-1922. ... The Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that makes the sale of Peerages and other Honours illegal. ... In the United Kingdom, Life Peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles may not be inherited (those whose titles are inheritable are known as hereditary peers). ... The Life Peerages Act 1958 established the modern standards for the creation of Life Peers by the monarch of the United Kingdom, and granted them non-hereditary voting status in the House of Lords. ...

In May 1998, the then Chairman of the Political Honours Scrutiny Committee, former Conservative Cabinet Minister Lord Pym, told a House of Commons Select Committee that the committee considered a political donation a point in a nominee's favour as it indicated involvement in public life, and that the nominee had "put their money where his mouth is". The House of Lords Appointments Commission was established in 2000 to check the suitability of those nominated for an honour. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and is the second oldest extant political party in the world. ... Popular conservative British politician Francis Pym, during his Cambridge years Francis Leslie Pym, Baron Pym, MC and Bar, PC (born 13 February 1922) is a British Conservative Party politician and former member of the Cabinet. ...

In the summer of 2005, a list of 28 people nominated for working peerages was prepared. The list contained 11 Labour nominees, 8 Conservatives, 5 Liberal Democrats, 3 members of the Democratic Unionist Party and one member of the Ulster Unionist Party. The Green Party of England and Wales ultimately declined to nominate. The list was referred to the Appointments Commission in the usual way. Publication of the list was delayed and stories began to appear in the press stating that the Commission had concerns about some of those nominated on grounds of their large donations to political parties.^[6] In February 2006, stockbroker Barry Townsley, who had donated £6,000 (and loaned £1m on commercial terms)^[7] to the Labour Party and contributed £1.5m to a City Academy under a government scheme, withdrew his acceptance on the grounds of press intrusion into his private life. In the United Kingdom, Life Peers are appointed members of the Peerage whose titles may not be inherited (those whose titles are inheritable are known as hereditary peers). ... The Labour Party is a centre-left or social democratic political party in Britain (see British politics), and one of the United Kingdoms three main political parties. ... The new logo of the Conservative Party The Conservative Party is the largest centre right political party in the United Kingdom. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... DUP redirects here. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... The Green Party of England and Wales (GPEW) is the principal Green political party in England and Wales. ... Barry Stephen Townsley CBE (born October 14, 1946) is a British stockbroker and charity-worker. ...

Townsley, who is currently the subject of an investigation by the Serious Fraud Office, was followed by property millionaire Sir David Garrard, who withdrew his name in March 2006. Sir Gulam Noon, the British-Indian food company millionaire, was also nominated by the Labour Party after having made donations and loaned money (he also had his nomination rejected by the Appointments Commission). Sir Gulam told the Times newspaper a "senior party man" told him "there was no reason why I should declare this loan because it was refundable". "I was told by this same person that because there was interest on the loan it was a commercial matter and would not come under the same party funding rules as a donation."^[8] The Serious Fraud Office is an arm of the Government of the United Kingdom, accountable to the Attorney-General. ... David Douglas Garrard (born February 14, 1978 in East Orange, New Jersey) is an American football player who plays quarterback for the Jacksonville Jaguars. ... Sir Gulam Noon MBE is a British businessman of Indian origin. ...

The list of working peers, minus the withdrawn and queried names, was published on 10 April 2006.^[9] April 10 is the 100th day of the year (101st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

Chai Patel

On 8 March 2006, Dr Chai Patel (Director of the Priory healthcare group) who had donated £10,000 to the Labour Party complained that he was being rejected by the Commission. He said "It is a fact that I have donated, but what is being implicated is that I would be rewarded with a peerage. I have never asked for any favour for the money that I have donated. My children suggested that if I had not given this money, I would not be seen in this light. But I happen to support this Government. I gave money to the party because I happen to believe in what it stands for. I can't change what has happened." Patel stated that he had asked a Queen's Counsel for advice on whether his human rights were being abused by the Commission. March 8 is the 67th day of the year (68th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Dr Chaitanya Patel CBE FRCP (born September 14, 1954) is a British doctor and businessman who is the Chief Executive of the Priory Healthcare group. ... Cherie Booth QC wearing her ceremonial robes (including full-bottomed wig) as Queens Counsel at the Bar of England and Wales. ...

On 29 March 2006, Patel withdrew his name from the list of nominees for a peerage. He said that at no time did he have any expectation of a reward nor had he been offered anything in return, yet on a BBC 'Today' programme he expressed the view that he wanted to serve in the Upper House (the Lords) as he felt that his life experience ensured that he could make a valuable contribution there.^[10] He has also stated in a letter to the House of Lords Appointments Commission that "I feel that, given my accumulated experience and deep sense of public service, as well as being able to devote the time to undertake the responsibility effectively, I would be able to make a contribution to the parliamentary process." March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (89th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

1997 Labour Party commitments

The 1997 General Election Labour Party manifesto was entitled "new Labour because Britain deserves better". In the section headed "We will clean up politics", the text pointed to the debasing of democracy through Conservative MPs who had taken cash for asking questions in the House of Commons. A pledge was made to the "reform of party funding to end sleaze" with the commitment to a law to require all parties to declare the source of all donations above a minimum figure, which Labour already did voluntarily. Foreign funding would be banned. These commitments were delivered in 2000 with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. The UK general election, 1997 was one of the largest election victories in the history of the twentieth century. ... Look up manifesto in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The cash-for-questions affair was a controversial political scandal in 1990s Britain. ... The House of Commons is the lower house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 is an Act of Parliament that sets out how political parties, elections and referendums are to be regulated in the United Kingdom. ...

It also described the need to reform the House of Lords which would end the right by law of hereditary peers to sit and vote in the House of Lords. This commitment was delivered in 1999 with the House of Lords Act 1999. In relation to the system of appointment of life peers Labour’s stated objective was to ensure that over time party appointees as life peers would more accurately reflect the proportion of votes cast at the previous general election, a commitment that has since been altered so that the two main parties in the House of Lords should instead have approximately equal strength. The House of Lords Act 1999, an Act of Parliament passed by the British Parliament, was a major constitutional enactment as it reformed greatly one of the chambers of Parliament, the House of Lords (see Lords Reform). ...

Loans

On 12 March 2006, the Sunday Times reported that shortly before being told that he would receive a peerage, Patel had been asked to change a donation to the Labour Party he was planning to make into an unsecured loan. On 26 March 2006, The Independent confirmed that it was Lord Levy who had asked Patel to switch using this unsecured loan approach.^[11] He agreed and loaned £1.5m to the party, telling them that he would be prepared to change the loan into a donation at some point in the future. Over the next few days stories were printed which stated that the Labour Party had borrowed £3.5 million from private individuals during 2005, the year of a general election. It was subsequently revealed that a total of £13.95 million had been loaned by wealthy individuals to support Labour's election campaign.^[12] The figures released mean the bulk of the £17.94m the party spent on its general election campaign was paid for by loans from individuals. The terms of the loans were confidential. March 12 is the 71st day of the year (72nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper distributed in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International which is in turn owned by News Corporation. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (86th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... Lord Levy greeting Tony Blair at a fundraising function (from BBC News) Michael Abraham Levy, Baron Levy (born 11 July 1944) is a Labour member of the British House of Lords and the major fundraiser for the UK Labour Party party and several Jewish and Israeli charities. ... The United Kingdom general election of 2005 was held on Thursday, 5 May 2005. ...

Loans made on commercial terms, at between 1% and 3% above the banking base rate as was the case here, are not subject to reporting requirements to the Electoral Commission.^[13] However the Treasurer of the Party, Jack Dromey, stated publicly that neither he nor Labour's elected National Executive Committee chairman Sir Jeremy Beecham had knowledge of or involvement in the loans and had only become aware when he read about it in the newspapers. Dromey stated that he was regularly consulted about conventional bank loans. As well as announcing his own investigation he called on the Electoral Commission to investigate the issue of political parties taking out loans from non-commercial sources.^[14] In finance, interest has three general definitions. ... The Electoral Commission is a non-ministerial government department with powers in the United Kingdom, which was created by an Act of Parliament, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (2000 c. ... In many governments, a treasurer is the person responsible for running the treasury. ... Jack Dromey (born 21 September 1948) is a British trade unionist, Deputy General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union and Treasurer Labour Party Dromey was elected Deputy General Secretary of the Transport and General Workers Union, having lost the 2003 election for General Secretary to Tony Woodley by... The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. ... Sir Jeremy Beecham, DL (born 1944) is a British Labour politician and a senior figure in English local government. ...

Tribune magazine reported that Dromey had intended to reveal his inquiry exclusively in the Labour-oriented magazine later that week, but having heard that Tony Blair intended to announce an inquiry the following day, toured television studios on the evening of 15 March 2006 announcing his inquiry (video). Dromey feared he would be blamed for the debts by an inquiry organised by 10 Downing Street (Tribune 2006/3/24 p5). Dromey's announcement created much media interest to which Blair had to respond to at his monthly press conference the next day. Blair said he wanted to shake up of the honours system and improve the rules covering party funding.^[15] Tribune is a democratic socialist weekly, currently a magazine though in the past more often a newspaper, published in London. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (75th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stand in front of the famous main door to Number 10. ...

The affair centred on two aspects of Labour's political fund raising activities. First, to what degree was there a tacit or implied relationship between the large scale donors and their subsequent recognition via the honours system? Second, the rules on party funding (applicable to all political parties in the UK) require that anyone donating £5,000 or more must be named - but loans of any amount do not have to be declared provided they are made on commercial terms. This loophole raises accusations of undue secrecy and potentially calls into question the probity of those involved in procurement and handling of such large and anonymous sums, particularly when the elected party treasurer was unaware of the existence of the loans. The British honours system is a means of rewarding individuals personal bravery, achievement or service to the United Kingdom. ...

Lord Levy, a close friend of Tony Blair (who is the Prime Minister's personal envoy to the Middle East, as well as occasional tennis partner), has raised funds for Labour and was identified in the press as a key figure in arranging the loans and on 17 March 2006 it was announced that the Public Administration Select Committee of the House of Commons had invited him to give evidence on political financing.^[16] Committee Chairman Tony Wright said: Lord Levy greeting Tony Blair at a fundraising function (from BBC News) Michael Abraham Levy, Baron Levy (born 11 July 1944) is a Labour member of the British House of Lords and the major fundraiser for the UK Labour Party party and several Jewish and Israeli charities. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Public Administration Select Committee is a Standing Committee appointed by the British House of Commons to examine the reports of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and the Parliamentary Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. ... Dr. Anthony Wayland Tony Wright (born 11 March 1948) is a politician in the United Kingdom. ...

Another issue is repayment: the Labour Party owed about £14m before the election. The interest on the loans amounts to £900,000 a year and some of the loans have to be repaid within months, either through further borrowing or gifts. In these circumstances, one unanswered question concerns why Lord Levy asked for loans rather than gifts.

It was disclosed on 25 March 2006 that the only persons privy to details of the loans were Tony Blair, Lord Levy and Matt Carter.^[17] March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Matt Carter is the General Secretary of the British Labour Party. ...

On March 25, 2006 it was revealed that Scotland Yard had requested that parliament halt the public administration committee hearing with four of the peerage nominees, Sir David Garrard, Sir Gulam Noon, and Chai Patel, Barry Townsley as it could prejudice the criminal investigation. The assistant commissioner, John Yates asked for the parliamentary investigation to be postponed.^[18] March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... New Scotland Yard, London New Scotland Yard, it blowwsssss often referred to simply as Scotland Yard or The Yard, is the headquarters of the Metropolitan Police Service, responsible for policing Greater London (although not the City of London itself). ... Assistant Commissioner John Yates is one of five senior police officers who hold the rank in the Metropolitan Police, the statutory police force for Greater London excluding the City of London. ...

The Guardian revealed that many of the people who had made loans to the Labour party had been major donors to charities with which Lord Levy had been involved, namely, the Community Service Volunteers, Jewish Care and the NSPCC. Sir David Garrard, Andrew Rosenfeld, and Barry Townsley are patrons of Jewish Care; Richard Caring, proprietor of the Ivy in London, had raised £10m for the NSPCC, and Sir David Garrard, Dr. Chai Patel, Andrew Rosenfeld, Richard Caring, and Derek Tullett are all connected to the Community Service Volunteers.^[18] Michael Levy, Baron Levy is a millionare and a Labour member of the House of Lords, and a prominent figure in the Labour Friends of Israel. ... Community Service Volunteers (CSV) is the UKs largest volunteering and training charity. ... Jewish Care is a British charity, working mainly in London and South East England, providing health and social welfare support services for vulnerable members of the Jewish community. ... The National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children (NSPCC) is a UK charity working in child protection and the prevention of cruelty to children. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Sir David Garrard. ... Andrew Rosenfeld is a British chairman of the property firm Minerva. ... Barry Stephen Townsley CBE (born October 14, 1946) is a British stockbroker and charity-worker. ... Mas-tu vu ? Official website Caprice Holdings website More information and customer reviews of The Ivy Categories: | | | ... This article is about the capital of England and the United Kingdom. ... Dr Chaitanya Patel CBE FRCP (born September 14, 1954) is a British doctor and businessman who is the Chief Executive of the Priory Healthcare group. ... Community Service Volunteers (CSV) is the UKs largest volunteering and training charity. ...

In July 2006 it came to public attention that Lord Levy had allegedly told Sir Gulam Noon, a businessman nominated for a peerage, not to tell the Lords vetting committee about his loan to the Labour party. On 20 April 2005 Noon had agreed to lend Labour £250,000 on commercial terms. He paid the funds on 28 April. He had originally offered to make a donation of between £50,000 and £75,000 but Levy wanted £1m. They then negotiated a loan, rather than a donation. Sir Gulam Noon MBE is a British businessman of Indian origin. ... April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

A letter sent to Sir Gulam at this time by Labour said that his £250,000 loan was not "reportable" under relevant legislation.

On 3 October 2006, Sir Gulam was informed by a Labour official that the prime minister was nominating him for a peerage. On 4 October 2006, Sir Gulam received the nomination forms for joining the House of Lords. These asked him to list his contributions to Labour. Sir Gulam gave the papers to his accountant, who put down the £250,000 on the form along with just over £220,000 of straight donations he had made since 2000. October 3 is the 276th day of the year (277th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... October 4 is the 277th day of the year (278th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

On 5 October 2006 Lord Levy told Sir Gulam that he should not have included the £250,000 on the papers sent to the Lords Appointments Commission, because it was not a donation, and was therefore not legally required to be disclosed. Sir Gulam retrieved the papers from Downing Street and submitted a revised document that made no mention of the £250,000. October 5 is the 278th day of the year (279th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

In March 2006, the Lords Appointments Commission found out about the loan. Its chairman, Lord Stevenson, then wrote to the prime minister asking that Sir Gulam's nomination for a peerage be withdrawn.^[19]

Full list of Labour Party contributions

On 20 March 2006 the Labour Party issued the full list of 12 lenders together with the sums involved:^[20] March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

One of the lenders, Lord Sainsbury of Turville was, until November 2006, a government minister. Initially Lord Sainsbury of Turville incorrectly announced that he had reported the loan to the Department of Trade and Industry's Permanent Secretary. He later apologised for unintentionally misleading the public by confusing disclosures about a donation of £2m with the loan for the same amount which in fact he had not reported. He faces an investigation by Sir John Bourn, head of the National Audit Office, for a possible breach of the ministerial code.^[21] Rod Aldridge was the former Executive Chairman of Capita, a British company specialising in business process outsourcing. ... Capita is the number one provider of business process outsourcing (BPO) in the UK. Simply put, BPO is defined as the outsourcing of business functions or processes, often facilitated by IT. The BPO market continues to widen as the range of functions and processes that organisations look to outsource grows. ... Mas-tu vu ? Official website Caprice Holdings website More information and customer reviews of The Ivy Categories: | | | ... Sir Christopher Thomas Evans, OBE, PhD, is a biotechnology entrepreneur in the United Kingdom. ... Sir David Eardley Garrard (born in 1939) is a retired British property developer. ... Nigel Morris is a businessman who co-founded Capital One with Richard Fairbank, and retired as COO in 2004. ... Capital One Financial Corp. ... The Economist Group delivers a series of publications and services under The Economist brand, such as The Economist (called a newspaper for historical reasons, but to all appearances a weekly news magazine), Economist. ... Sir Gulam Noon MBE is a British businessman of Indian origin. ... Dr Chaitanya Patel CBE FRCP (born September 14, 1954) is a British doctor and businessman who is the Chief Executive of the Priory Healthcare group. ... Andrew Rosenfeld is a British chairman of the property firm Minerva. ... Minerva plc is a British developer and property firm co-founded by the millionaire philanthropist Sir David Garrard. ... David John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville (born 24 October 1940) is a British businessman, politician and life peer for the Labour Party. ... Barry Stephen Townsley CBE (born October 14, 1946) is a British stockbroker and charity-worker. ... David John Sainsbury, Baron Sainsbury of Turville (born 24 October 1940) is a British businessman, politician and life peer for the Labour Party. ... A minister or a secretary is a politician who heads a government ministry or department (e. ... The Department of Trade and Industry is a United Kingdom government department. ... The Permanent Secretary, in most departments officially titled the Permanent Under-Secretary of State (although the full title is rarely used), is the most senior civil servant of a British Government ministry, charged with running the department on a day-to-day basis. ... Sir John Bourn KCB Sir John Bourn is an officer of the British House of Commons. ... The National Audit Office (NAO) is an independent Parliamentary body in the United Kingdom which is responsible for auditing central government departments, government agencies and non-departmental public bodies. ...

Conservative Party loans

On 31 March 2006 the Conservative Party published a list of 13 wealthy individuals and companies to whom it owed a total of £15.95 million:^[22] March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (91st in leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

The identity of 10 backers it had repaid - including a number of foreign nationals - was not revealed. These loans had totalled £5 million. Some of these lenders were concerned not to reveal their identity fearing that it might compromise their existing business arrangements with the government.^[23] Their details, including one foreign backer, will be provided "in confidence" to the Electoral Commission.^[24] Initially the party had sought to not disclose to anyone the names of two lenders who requested confidentiality.^[25] Arbuthnot Latham & Co is a small commercial bank in the United Kingdom. ... Sir Michael Anthony Ashcroft, Baron Ashcroft, KCMG, is a Conservative politician in the United Kingdom. ... Dame Vivien Duffield (born 1946), British socialite and philanthropist. ... Johan Eliasch is a Swedish businessman, based in London, who is the chairman and CEO of sporting goods manufacturer Head. ... Irvine Alan Stewart Laidlaw, Baron Laidlaw (born 1943 in Keith, Banff) is a Scottish businessman, and a member of the House of Lords. ... Charles Wigoder (born 2 March 1960), is an English telecommunications entrepreneur, most associated with the Utility Warehouse Discount Club // The son of The Right Honourable Lord Wigoder, QC PC[1] (his children are entitled to use The Honourable title), Charles studied Accountancy and Law at University of Kent[2]. Wigoder... Category: ... The Electorial Commission is an independent body with powers in the United Kingdom, which was created by an Act of Parliament, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000. ...

The party had an outstanding £16 million bank loan and £4.7 million was owed to local Conservative Party associations.

The Electoral Commission welcomed the decision to publish the list - but said it had written to the party asking for more details on the loan terms.

Criminal investigation

Corrupt procurement and award of honours is legislated against by the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 and the Public Bodies Corrupt Practices Act 1889 ^[26] and the Metropolitan Police investigated three complaints they received under these Acts. The police are also investigating whether false declarations were made to the Electoral Commission, which is an offence under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.^[27] On 27 March they gave MPs more details of its inquiry into the complaints ^[28] and the Public Administration Select Committee agreed to postpone its hearing on this issue in order not to prejudice possible police action.^[29] The criminal inquiry and the Electoral Commission investigation both stretch back to 2001.^[30] Image File history File links Information. ... Prose is writing distinguished from poetry by its greater variety of rhythm and its closer resemblance to the patterns of everyday [[speech. ... The Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that makes the sale of Peerages and other Honours illegal. ... The Public Bodies Corrupt Practice Act 1889 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. ... Metropolitan Police redirects here. ... The Electoral Commission is a non-ministerial government department with powers in the United Kingdom, which was created by an Act of Parliament, the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (2000 c. ... The Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 is an Act of Parliament that sets out how political parties, elections and referendums are to be regulated in the United Kingdom. ... March 27 is the 86th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (87th in leap years). ... The Public Administration Select Committee is a Standing Committee appointed by the British House of Commons to examine the reports of the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman and the Parliamentary Ombudsman for Northern Ireland. ...

6 April 2006 - Electoral Commission announced that its own investigation was to be suspended until the police completed their inquiries. The Electoral Commission was not satisfied that election funding laws had not been breached.^[31] April 6 is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

13 April 2006 - Metropolitan Police arrested former government adviser Desmond Smith under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act. Smith, headteacher of All Saints Catholic School and Technology College, was a council member of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, which helped the government recruit sponsors for the City Academy programme.^[32] Lord Levy is the President of The Council of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust. April 13 is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Desmond Des P Smith MA, BA, ACDip was, until his retirement in July 2006[1] , the headteacher at All Saints Catholic School and Technology College, Dagenham. ... The Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, passed in 1925 (15 & 16 Geo. ... In the UK and elsewhere, a head teacher is the most senior teacher in a school. ... All Saints School Dagenham is a Roman Catholic school in the London Borough of Barking and Dagenham. ... The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) is a national body for secondary education in England, with responsibility for overseeing the Specialist schools and Academies programmes. ... A city academy is a type of British secondary school, of which one of the major architects was Andrew Adonis in his capacity as education advisor to the Prime Minister (now Lord Adonis, a junior Minister at the Department for Education and Skills) in the late 1990s. ...

12 July 2006 - Lord Levy was arrested by the Metropolitan Police in connection with the enquiry. July 12 is the 193rd day of the year (194th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Lord Levy greeting Tony Blair at a fundraising function (from BBC News) Michael Abraham Levy, Baron Levy (born 11 July 1944) is a Labour member of the British House of Lords and the major fundraiser for the UK Labour Party party and several Jewish and Israeli charities. ... Metropolitan Police redirects here. ...

20 September 2006 - Businessman Christopher Evans was arrested by police in connection with the enquiry. September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Sir Christopher Thomas Evans, OBE, PhD, is a biotechnology entrepreneur in the United Kingdom. ...

22 November 2006 - The police questioned a serving Cabinet minister, for the first time, as a witness in the investigation, Secretary of State for Health Patricia Hewitt.^[33] November 22 is the 326th day (327th on leap years) of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... A cabinet is a body of high-ranking members of government, typically representing the executive branch. ... Minister of Health redirects here. ... Patricia Hope Hewitt (born 2 December 1948) is a British politician. ...

14 December 2006 - Police questioned Prime Minister Tony Blair at Downing Street; he was not arrested or interviewed under caution. December 14 is the 348th day of the year (349th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is, in practice, the political leader of the United Kingdom. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Downing Street For a wider coverage of London, visit the London Portal. ... The Miranda warning is a police warning that is given to criminal suspects in police custody or in a custodial situation in the United States before they are asked questions relating to the commission of a crime. ...

15 December 2006 - Police questioned Jack McConnell, the First Minister of Scotland.^[34] December 15 is the 349th day of the year (350th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Jack Wilson McConnell (born June 30, 1960 in Irvine, North Ayrshire) is a former First Minister of Scotland, current leader of the Scottish Labour Party and Member of the Scottish Parliament for the Motherwell and Wishaw constituency. ... The First Minister (First Meinister in Scots; PrÃ¬omh Mhinistear in Scots Gaelic) is the leader of Scotlands national devolved government, the Scottish Executive, which was established in 1999 along with the reconvened Scottish Parliament. ... Motto (Latin) No one provokes me with impunity Cha togar mfhearg gun dioladh (Scottish Gaelic)1 Wha daur meddle wi me?(Scots)1 Anthem (Multiple unofficial anthems) Scotlands location in Europe Capital Edinburgh Largest city Glasgow Official languages English, Gaelic, Scots Government Constitutional monarchy - Queen Queen Elizabeth II...

January 2007 - Police questioned, under caution, John McTernan, the Director of Political Operations at 10 Downing Street seconded to the Scottish Labour Party to run its campaign for the Scottish Parliament general election of 3 May, 2007.^[35]^[36]^[37] 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Miranda warning is a police warning that is given to criminal suspects in police custody or in a custodial situation in the United States before they are asked questions relating to the commission of a crime. ... John McTernan is the Director of Political Operations at Number 10 Downing Street. ... Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stand in front of the famous main door to Number 10. ... This article is about the Scottish Labour Party founded in 1976. ... Scottish Parliament general election, 2007 concerns the third general election to the Scottish Parliament, which will be held on May 3, 2007. ...

19 January 2007 - Ruth Turner, Director of Government Relations at 10 Downing Street, was arrested by police both under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act and on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. She was later released on bail.^[38] She was the first salaried Government official to be arrested in the inquiry, which followed a search of 10 Downing Street's computer systems by an independent IT expert.^[39] January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Ruth Turner (born 1970 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland as Caitriona Ruth Turner), is currently Director of Government Relations within Tony Blairs Downing Street office. ... Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stand in front of the famous main door to Number 10. ... The Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, passed in 1925 (15 & 16 Geo. ... In British law, perversion of the course of justice is a criminal offence in which someone acts in a manner that in some way prevents justice being served on themselves or other parties. ...

26 January 2007 - Prime Minister Tony Blair was questioned in Downing Street for a second time—once again, not under caution. The interview, which lasted 45 minutes, was not publicly revealed until 1 February 2007 at the request of police due to what they described as "operational reasons". A Metropolitan Police spokesperson stated that Blair was only being "interviewed as a witness" but declined to state whether the interview related to alleged breaches of the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act or alleged perversion of the course of justice. ^[40] January 26 is the 26th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is, in practice, the political leader of the United Kingdom. ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency... Downing Street For a wider coverage of London, visit the London Portal. ... The Miranda warning is a police warning that is given to criminal suspects in police custody or in a custodial situation in the United States before they are asked questions relating to the commission of a crime. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Metropolitan Police redirects here. ... The Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 is an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom, passed in 1925 (15 & 16 Geo. ... In English or Irish law, perversion of the course of justice is a criminal offence in which someone acts in a manner that in some way prevents justice being served on either themselves or on a third party. ...

30 January 2007 - Lord Levy was arrested again on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, while still on bail from the previous arrest. He was subsequently bailed. ^[41] January 30 is the 30th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Lord Levy greeting Tony Blair at a fundraising function (from BBC News) Michael Abraham Levy, Baron Levy (born 11 July 1944) is a Labour member of the British House of Lords and the major fundraiser for the UK Labour Party party and several Jewish and Israeli charities. ... In British law, perversion of the course of justice is a criminal offence in which someone acts in a manner that in some way prevents justice being served on themselves or other parties. ...

7 February 2007 - Crown Prosecution Service confirm head teacher Des Smith will not face any charges.^[42] February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, is a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in England and Wales. ... Desmond Des P Smith MA, BA, ACDip was, until his retirement in July 2006[1] , the headteacher at All Saints Catholic School and Technology College, Dagenham. ...

20 February 2007 - On reporting to a police station under her bail terms, Ruth Turner was interviewed for a second time and re-bailed.^[43] February 20 is the 51st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The word bail as a legal term means: Security, usually a sum of money, exchanged for the release of an arrested person as a guarantee of that persons appearance for trial. ... Ruth Turner (born 1970 in Dublin, Republic of Ireland as Caitriona Ruth Turner), is currently Director of Government Relations within Tony Blairs Downing Street office. ...

2 March 2007 - The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith, obtained an injunction to prevent the BBC airing a story about the cash for honours investigation.^[44] March 2 is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... Her Majestys Attorney General for England and Wales, usually known as the Attorney General, is the chief legal adviser of the Crown in England and Wales. ... Peter Henry Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith, PC, is the current Attorney General of England and Wales. ...

5 March 2007 - after a request to the Attorney General, the BBC was allowed to reveal that the email was sent by Number 10 aide Ruth Turner to Tony Blair's chief of staff, Jonathan Powell, and concerned Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy^[45] The BBC were still not allowed to reveal the contents of the email March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (65th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

6 March 2007 - after both the police and the attorney general failed to obtain an injunction, The Guardian newspaper revealed that the police had shifted their focus from whether there was an effort to sell peerages to whether there has been a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. It emerged that Turner and Levy had a meeting in 2006, an account of which was passed by her lawyers to the police, and around which the police are seeking clarification of whether Levy asked Turner to "shape" the evidence she gave to Scotland Yard.^[46] On the same day, the Daily Telegraph newspaper revealed that Ruth Turner had not actually sent the email, because she feared it would be damaging if it fell into the wrong hands.^[47] Later in the day the BBC gets the injunction against them lifted, and confirm that their story is similar in substance to that published in the Guardian.^[48] March 6 is the 65th day of the year (66th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... This article concerns the British newspaper. ...

20 April 2007 Police file on the investigation sent to the Crown Prosecution Service - see section below April 20 is the 110th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (111th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, is a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in England and Wales. ...

Connection with education funding

Desmond Smith was the subject of a Sunday Times investigation, which led to his resignation from the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust.^[49] At that time a Downing Street spokesman said "It's nonsense to suggest that honours are awarded for giving money to an academy.".^[50] This was later contradicted when it was confirmed that the 'citations' explaining the case for putting Sir David Garrard and Barry Townsley in the House of Lords 'prominently' featured their role in helping academy schools. Downing Street sources said the Prime Minister wanted their political support in the Lords for the controversial policy, adding that the Prime Minister felt that anyone who gave their time, commitment and money to establish an academy - to help children in previously failing schools - 'had a strong claim to be considered for an honour'. 'What we wanted was people with expertise in academies as working peers, taking the Labour whip, who could actively contribute with a massive amount of knowledge to the debate on education in the House of Lords.'^[51] Desmond Des P Smith MA, BA, ACDip was, until his retirement in July 2006[1] , the headteacher at All Saints Catholic School and Technology College, Dagenham. ... The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper distributed in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International which is in turn owned by News Corporation. ... The Specialist Schools and Academies Trust (SSAT) is a national body for secondary education in England, with responsibility for overseeing the Specialist schools and Academies programmes. ... Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stand in front of the famous main door to Number 10. ... Mossbourne Community Academy, the controversial successor to Hackney Downs School. ...

Garrard gave £2.4m for an academy in Bexley, south London. Townsley gave £1.5m for another in west London. // Bexley is a place in south east London in the London Borough of Bexley. ...

Political reaction

There was widespread support for an enquiry and some calls to revise the process of party political funding.

Labour Party

Tony Blair

Speaking at his monthly news briefing on 16 March 2006, Tony Blair confirmed his knowledge of the loans but denied any connection between the large loans from three private individuals and whether they were subsequently nominated for honours. Blair said all three men were known party donors and would have made excellent Labour "working peers". He suggested that further changes to the honours system might be needed.^[52] March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For other people of the same name, see Tony Blair (disambiguation) Anthony Charles Lynton Blair (born May 6, 1953)[1] is the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, First Lord of the Treasury, Minister for the Civil Service, Leader of the Labour Party, and Member of Parliament for the constituency...

When questioned, the PM commented that he did not think that Dromey had revealed details of his lack of involvement in the handling of the private loans in order to undermine or implicate either him or 10 Downing Street. Dromey's very public expression of concern (he toured various television channels to interview on the matter) raised suspicion among some supporters of Tony Blair that his actions were deliberately designed to embarrass the Prime Minister and consequently benefit Prime Minister in-waiting Chancellor Gordon Brown. Dromey denied this, saying he had been forced to go public when his persistent questioning failed to satisfactorily resolve the matter. Prime Minister Tony Blair and U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney stand in front of the famous main door to Number 10. ... This article or section does not adequately cite its references or sources. ...

Detectives pressed him to be called as a prosecution witness in any trial resulting from the investigation on June 3, 2007.^[53] June 3 is the 154th day of the year (155th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Charles Clarke

Also on 16 March 2006 the then Home Secretary stated "The treasurer should know about all the fundraising issues that arise."^[54] March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... The Secretary of State for the Home Department, commonly known as the Home Secretary, is the minister in charge of the United Kingdom Home Office and is responsible for internal affairs in England and Wales, and for immigration and citizenship for the whole United Kingdom (including Scotland and Northern Ireland). ...

However, he later called into question Dromey's competence, saying he had "serious questions about Jack Dromey's capacity" as Labour treasurer and the fact Dromey did not know about the loans meant "you have to wonder how well he was doing his work" finally adding, "I don't know why Jack behaved as he did." He rejected as "nonsense" a suggestion that the treasurer had spoken publicly about the loans to speed up the transition of power from Blair to Chancellor Gordon Brown.^[55]

Sir Jeremy Beecham

Sir Jeremy Beecham, chairman of Labour's governing body, the NEC, accused Charles Clarke of speaking out of turn and defended party treasurer Jack Dromey. He said the treasurer "shouldn't be criticised" and had "acted perfectly properly". It was "absolutely clear that the reasons that NEC officers, including the elected party treasurer, did not know about the loans had nothing to do with any failings on their part". He added: "Jack Dromey has always carried out his responsibilities with great diligence and retained the absolute confidence of the NEC in ensuring that this issue is dealt with." In an interview on BBC2's Newsnight he said Clarke had not read the situation correctly. "I don't know how closely Charles has been involved in all this. He's not been on the National Executive for a number of years. I wouldn't have said it in Charles Clarke's position."^[56] Sir Jeremy Beecham, DL (born 1944) is a British Labour politician and a senior figure in English local government. ... The National Executive Committee or NEC is the chief administrative body of the UK Labour Party. ... BBC Two (or BBC2 as it was formerly styled) was the second UK television station to be aired by the BBC. History The channel was scheduled to begin at 7:20pm on April 20, 1964 and show an evening of light entertainment, starting with the comedy show The Alberts and... Newsnight is a British daily news analysis, current affairs and politics programme broadcast between 22:30 and 23:20 on weekdays on BBC Two. ...

Harriet Harman

In a measure aimed to avoid any conflict of interest, Dromey's wife Harriet Harman — a minister in the Department for Constitutional Affairs — relinquished her responsibilities for overseeing electoral reform and House of Lords reform. Harriet Ruth Harman QC, MP (born July 30, 1950, London) is a British Solicitor and Labour politician. ... The Department for Constitutional Affairs (DCA) is a United Kingdom government department. ...

Diane Abbott

Writing of Dromey's reaction in The Times of 17 March 2006, left-wing Labour MP Diane Abbott said:^[57] The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Diane Julie Abbott (born September 27, 1953 in Paddington, London) is a British Labour Party Member of Parliament, representing the Hackney North and Stoke Newington constituency. ...

Clare Short

Former cabinet minister and Blair critic Clare Short described the issue with characteristic bluntness: Clare Short (born 15 February 1946) is a British politician and a member of the British Labour Party. ...

Ian McCartney

The Labour Party chairman Ian McCartney defended the loans with the BBC quoting him as saying:^[59] Ian McCartney (born 25 April 1951) is a British Labour politician who is the member of Parliament for Makerfield. ...

On 31 March 2006 McCartney said the Conservative Party still looked like they had "something to hide" by not revealing the identity of their foreign lenders. "We need to know who these people are, where they reside, where they pay tax, how much they lent and on what terms. "It is not up to the Tories to claim that they did not breach the law. That's the job of the Electoral Commission. "By failing to provide these details the Conservatives and David Cameron are fuelling suspicion that they have even more to hide."^[60] March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (91st in leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ...

John Prescott

John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, told the BBC that he was "not happy" he found out about the millions loaned to the Labour Party by reading it in the papers but insisted the loans would later appear in the party's audited accounts. He refused to give a guarantee that Labour had not given peerages for loans, saying "I am bound to say not all the information possibly is out yet and we are still looking at it." John Leslie Prescott MP (born 31 May 1938) is a British Labour Party politician, Deputy Prime Minister, First Secretary of State and Member of Parliament for the North East constituency of Hull East. ... A Deputy Prime Minister is a member of a nations cabinet who can take the position of acting Prime Minister when the real Prime Minister is temporarily absent. ...

Prescott said he favoured a change to state funding but also said he would not rule out the suggestion that private loans should be capped ^[61]: "There's a kind of unhealthy approach to political financing in this country. What we need to do is have a healthy debate."

Prescott himself became involved in accusations of influence peddling when newspapers suggested he had made planning decisions in favour of Minerva plc, a company chaired at various times by two of the lenders involved, Sir David Garrard and Andrew Rosenfeld. He told BBC One's The Politics Show he did not "know anything" about the firm or secret loans to the party.^[62] Influence peddling is the practice of using ones influence with persons in authority to obtain favors or preferential treatment for another, usually in return for payment. ... Minerva plc is a British developer and property firm co-founded by the millionaire philanthropist Sir David Garrard. ... The Politics Show is an hour long BBC television programme broadcast in the United Kingdom on Sundays at Midday. ...

He said he had received the planning requirements for a skyscraper in London and the Park Place shopping centre in Croydon but felt the decision could be made locally. "I passed it over to Croydon and City of London Corporation. They made the decision, not me. It's quite untrue to say there was a deal or I made the decision." Park Place is a proposed shopping centre in Croydon, England. ... It has been suggested that Central Croydon be merged into this article or section. ...

Of Garrard and Rosenfeld he said, "I don't think I have ever met them. I don't know who the companies are and I certainly don't know if they were giving money to the Labour Party. I am not a great one for circulating among businessmen. I just do my damn job and therefore I resent it when these implications are made. I have not made any money from politics for God's sake. But I am here doing what I can best in public service. My reputation is important to me. My politics is important to me."

"I make my mistakes from time to time and we have to be answerable to you guys but not when it's a lie," he added.

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Amendments to the Electoral Administration Act to make it a legal requirement that loans to political parties are made public in a similar way to donations will be urgently considered by Lord Falconer of Thoroton, the Lord Chancellor.^[63] The Electoral Administration Act 2006 is an Act which was passed by Parliament of the United Kingdom on 11 July 2006. ... Lord Falconer of Thoroton The Right Honourable Charles Leslie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton, PC (born 19 November 1951) is a British lawyer and Labour Party politician. ... The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, or Lord Chancellor and prior to the Union the Chancellor of England and the Lord Chancellor of Scotland, is a senior and important functionary in the government of the United Kingdom, and its predecessor states. ...

Conservative Party

David Cameron

"We've got to stop this perception that parties can somehow be bought by big donations either from very rich people, or trade unions, or businesses."

The Conservative Party admitted that it has engaged in similar borrowing (but did not reveal any links to nominations for peerages). Such loans have been reported in party accounts though the annual accounts are not yet published for the period covering the 2005 general election. The Conservative Party (officially the Conservative and Unionist Party) is the second largest political party in the United Kingdom in terms of sitting Members of Parliament (MPs), the largest in terms of public membership, and is the second oldest extant political party in the world. ...

These proposals would also reduce the number of MPs from 646 to fewer than 600.^[64]

Francis Maude

Conservative Party chairman Francis Maude said he "regretted" accepting loans from abroad but insisted it had not broken the law. He said it had to pay back £5m to lenders who wanted to remain anonymous including a number of foreign nationals. Francis Anthony Aylmer Maude (born 4 July 1953) is a British politician, the Conservative Member of Parliament for Horsham, Chairman of the Conservative Party and a member of the Privy Council. ...

"These loans represent a very small part of our financial backing - I wish we hadn't done so but we have and we have now set the record clear we have repaid those loans and the matter is perfectly clear," Mr Maude told BBC Radio Five Live. "It would clearly have been better if we hadn't as things turn out but that's the way it is." He insisted the Tories had done nothing wrong and that Labour had been "much less transparent about this whole process than we have." The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... BBC Radio Five Live is the BBCs radio service providing live BBC News, phone-ins, and sports commentaries. ...

He said he was "very proud" of the people who lent money to the Tories and insisted they had not supported the party out of "self-interest" because, he argued, it had not stood much of a chance of gaining power in recent years.

Liberal Democrats

Sir Menzies Campbell

Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said that his party had not nominated anyone for a peerage who had loaned it large sums. He said the Lib Dems received loans from three people in the period before the General Election and have declared their names and the sums lent. He urged transparency on funding, and suggested a £50,000 cap on donations by individuals and a reduction in maximum permitted party election spending from £20m to £15m^[65]: This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Sir Walter Menzies Campbell, CBE, QC (born 22 May 1941, Glasgow), commonly known as Ming Campbell, is a British politician. ...

Police file sent to Crown Prosecution Service

The Metropolitan Police team, investigating the affair and led by Assistant Commissioner John Yates handed its main file on the cash for peerages inquiry to the Crown Prosecution Service on Friday 20 April. Under English law, it is up to the CPS to decide whether to bring charges against any of the 136 people interviewed.^[66] Assistant Commissioner John Yates is one of five senior police officers who hold the rank in the Metropolitan Police, the statutory police force for Greater London excluding the City of London. ... The Crown Prosecution Service, or CPS, is a non-ministerial department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for public prosecutions of people charged with criminal offences in England and Wales. ...

On 4 June 2007 the CPS asked the police to undertake further enquiries.^[67] June 4 is the 155th day of the year (156th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ...

Previous instances

The expression "cash for peerages" has a long history. Titles have constantly been granted to court favorites and allies. James I was more overt; he created the title of baronet and sold them for £1,500 each to raise money for his war in Ireland. James Stuart (19 June 1566 â€“ 27 March 1625) was King of Scots as James VI, and King of England and King of Ireland as James I. He ruled in Scotland as James VI from 24 July 1567, when he was only one year old. ... A baronet (traditional abbreviation Bart, modern abbreviation Bt) or the female equivalent, a baronetess (abbreviation Btss), is the holder of a hereditary title awarded by the British Crown known as a baronetcy. ...

In the 1920s David Lloyd George was involved in a barely concealed "cash for patronage" scandal managed by Maundy Gregory, which resulted in the 1925 Act which barred it (purchase of peerages had not previously been illegal), and in 1976 Harold Wilson's resignation honours list was similarly embroiled in what became infamously known as The Lavender List (hand-written on lavender paper by Marcia Williams). This, though widely deemed to include some unsuitable and unsalubrious nominees, rewarded Wilson's friends and carried no suggestion of overt reward for money — given or loaned. Lord Kagan, ennobled in the Lavender List, was convicted of fraud in 1980 — for some years he had been funding Harold Wilson's Leader's office. Sir Eric Miller, knighted in the Lavender List, committed suicide in 1977 while under investigation for fraud; he too had helped fund Harold Wilson's Leader's office. David Lloyd George, 1st Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor, OM, PC (17 January 1863 â€“ 26 March 1945) was a British statesman who guided Britain and the British Empire through World War I and the postwar settlement as the Liberal Party Prime Minister, 1916-1922. ... (Arthur) Maundy Gregory (1 July 1877 â€“ 28 September 1941) was a British theater producer and political fixer who is most famous for selling honours. ... James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 â€“ 24 May 1995) was one of the most prominent British politicians of the 20th century. ... The Lavender List was a docudrama broadcast on BBC Four in March 2006. ... Marcia Matilda Falkender, Baroness Falkender (born March 10, 1932) is a British Labour politician, being first the private secretary for, and then the political secretary and head of political office to, Harold Wilson. ... Joseph Kagan, Baron Kagan (June 6, 1915 â€“ January 17, 1995) was a British industrialist and the founder of Kagan Textiles, Elland, who made raincoats from the waterproof Gannex fabric which Kagan had invented. ... Sir Eric Miller (1927 â€“ 22 September 1977) was an English-Jewish businessman who committed suicide while under investigation for fraud. ...

In the 1960s, Roy Thomson had some justifiable claim to a peerage as a Canadian and later British publisher. As even his company history observes, "Roy had noted that all proprietors of newspapers seemed to become members of the House of Lords. He had also noted this was emphatically ‘a good thing’" and he showed himself ready to do whatever was required to achieve this goal, believing at first that it could be a simple open purchase but moving on to explicit lobbying of prime ministers. He contributed money to charitable bodies which were deemed to improve his chances. Eventually, having bought The Scotsman, The Sunday Times and later The Times, he became sufficiently important to Harold Wilson that he was "raised to the peerage" as Baron Thomson of Fleet. Roy Herbert Thomson, 1st Baron Thomson of Fleet (June 5, 1894 â€“ August 4, 1976), was a newspaper proprietor and media entrepreneur. ... The Scotsmans offices in Edinburgh The Scotsman is a Scottish newspaper published in Edinburgh. ... The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper distributed in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International which is in turn owned by News Corporation. ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... James Harold Wilson, Baron Wilson of Rievaulx, KG, OBE, FRS, PC (11 March 1916 â€“ 24 May 1995) was one of the most prominent British politicians of the 20th century. ... Baron Thomson of Fleet is a peerage title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. ...

As recently as 2004 the issue of large donations to a political party being linked to the award of a peerage arose when Paul Drayson donated £555,000 to the Labour Party. His company, Powderject, had also received a valuable government contract to make vaccines.^[68] Years in politics: 2002-2003-2004-2005-2006 - list of years in politics Events January January 1- Adnan Pachachi becomes president of the Iraq Interim Governing Council and will serve for the duration of the month. ... Paul Rudd Drayson, Baron Drayson (born in 1960) is a successful British businessman and entrepreneur who was made a working peer entitled Baron Drayson, of Kensington in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, in May 2004. ...

References

^ "Cronyism inquiry holds up new peers", Daily Telegraph, 27 December 2005.
^ "Criminal probe into 'cash-for peerages' controversy", The Times, 21 March 2006.
^ "Labour 'bankrupted' by secret loans", The Independent, 4 February 2007.
^ Attorney General halts BBC probe, BBC News, March 2, 2007
^ Honours e-mail was sent by Turner, BBC News, March 5, 2007
^ "Sleaze row as election donors get peerages", The Times, 8 November 2005.
^ "Labour's treasurer 'kept party in dark over loan deals'", The Daily Telegraph, 16 March 2006.
^ "Labour official told me to keep quiet", The Times, 20 March 2006.
^ Downing Street press release, April 10, 2006
^ "Chai Patel withdraws name from peerage list", BBC, 29 March 2006.
^ "Money talks: Twelve angry men and one shame-faced Prime Minister", The Independent, 26 March 2006.
^ "Labour was secretly loaned £14m", BBC, 17 March 2006.
^ "Your secret loan can stay secret, Labour Party donors were told", The Times, 24 March 2006.
^ "Labour loans to be investigated", BBC, 15 March 2006.
^ "Labour 'to name future lenders'", BBC, 16 March 2006.
^ "Lord Levy: Labour's fundraiser", BBC, 17 March 2006.
^ "Developer's tower block approved after £200,000 donation to Labour", The Independent, 25 March 2006.
^ ^a ^b Scotland Yard asks MPs to delay their inquiry while it questions donors, The Guardian, David Hencke, March 25, 2006
^ "Levy's advice to donor revealed", BBC, 10 July 2006.
^ "Labour reveals secret loans list", BBC, 20 March 2006.
^ "Sainsbury faces inquiry about £2m loan", Financial Times, 3 April 2006.
^ "Conservative lenders unveiled", BBC, 31 March 2006.
^ "Tory lenders 'feared reprisals'", BBC, 24 March 2006.
^ "Backers repaid to stay secret will be named by Tories", The Times, 3 April 2006.
^ "Tories to maintain lender secrecy", BBC, 1 April 2006.
^ "This dishonourable affair", The Times, 20 March 2006.
^ "Labour figures 'in the frame' over peerages-for-loans scandal", The Independent, 17 May 2006.
^ "In full: Police letter on loans", BBC, 29 March 2006.
^ "MPs postpone loans inquiry", The Guardian, 28 March 2006.
^ "Cash for peerages probe widened", BBC, 22 April 2006.
^ "Commission suspends loans probe", BBC, 6 April 2006.
^ "Headteacher held in honours probe", BBC, 13 April 2006.
^ "Hewitt becomes first Cabinet member questioned over cash for honours", The Scotsman, 23 November 2006.
^ "Honours police quizzed McConnell", BBC News Scotland, 23 January 2007
^ "Honours probe quiz for No 10 aide", BBC News Scotland, 24 January 2007
^ "Blair aide sent to stem SNP tide", The Scotsman, 16 January 2007
^ "Now Holyrood election chief quizzed in peerages inquiry", The Scotsman, 24 January 2007
^ "Honours police arrest Blair aide", BBC, 19 January 2007.
^ "Email 'mole' led to aide's arrest", The Guardian, January 21, 2007.
^ "Blair interviewed again by police", BBC, February 1, 2007.
^ "Honours Police arrest Lord Levy", BBC.
^ "Honours probe teacher not charged", BBC, 7 February 2007.
^ "Police question Blair aide again", BBC, 21 February 2007.
^ Attorney General halts BBC probe, BBC News, March 2, 2007
^ Honours gag e-mail was about Levy
^ Cash for honours: key document names Levy
^ No 10 denies leaking cash-for-honours email
^ Blair aide's 'concern over Levy'
^ "Champagne, then talk of a knighthood", Sunday Times, 15 January 2006.
^ "City academies adviser resigns after cash-for-honours accusation", The Guardian, 16 January 2006.
^ "No 10 admits link between school donors and peerages", The Observer, 16 April 2006.
^ "Labour 'to name future lenders'", BBC, 16 March 2006.
^ "Honours police want Blair as a witness", The Telegraph, 3 June 2007.
^ "Clarke denies Labour loans rift", BBC, 16 March 2006.
^ "Clarke targets Labour treasurer", BBC, 21 March 2006.
^ "Clarke accused in £14m loans row", BBC, 22 March 2006.
^ "Diane Abbott: You're right: it's far from all right, Jack", The Times, 17 March 2006.
^ "How bad is loans row for Blair?", BBC, 20 March 2006.
^ "Loans defended by Labour chairman", BBC, 18 March 2006.
^ "Tories reveal £16m lenders list", BBC, 31 March 2006.
^ "Prescott in the dark about loans", BBC, 19 March 2006.
^ "Prescott denies Labour loans link", BBC, 26 March 2006.
^ "Secret party loans to be banned", BBC, 20 March 2006.
^ "Tories will not name key backers", BBC, 20 March 2006.
^ "Sir Menzies urges loans openness", BBC, 20 March 2006.
^ BBC News Website: Police hand honours file to CPS 20 Apr 07 (accessed 20 April 07)
^ BBC News Website: 'More inquiries' in honours probe
^ "Has Labour sleaze reached a new low?", Daily Mail, 24 August 2004.

This article deals with The Daily Telegraph in Britain, see The Daily Telegraph (Australia) for the Australian publication The Daily Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper founded in 1855. ... December 27 is the 361st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (362nd in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (81st in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... February 4 is the 35th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The current BBC News logo BBC News and Current Affairs is a major arm of the BBC responsible for the corporations newsgathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... March 2 is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The current BBC News logo BBC News and Current Affairs is a major arm of the BBC responsible for the corporations newsgathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... March 5 is the 64th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (65th in leap years). ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... November 8 is the 312th day of the year (313th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 53 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... This article concerns the British newspaper. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (89th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (86th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 15 is the 74th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (75th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... 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April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (91st in leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 24 is the 83rd day of the year (84th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... April 3 is the 93rd day of the year (94th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 272 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... April 1 is the 91st day of the year (92nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... For other uses, see The Independent (disambiguation). ... May 17 is the 137th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (138th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 29 is the 88th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (89th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... March 28 is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... April 22 is the 112th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (113th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... April 6 is the 96th day of the year (97th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... April 13 is the 103rd day of the year (104th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Scotsmans offices in Edinburgh The Scotsman is a Scottish newspaper published in Edinburgh. ... November 23 is the 327th day of the year (328th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 38 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Reporting Scotland is BBC Scotlands national television news programme. ... Reporting Scotland is BBC Scotlands national television news programme. ... The Scotsmans offices in Edinburgh The Scotsman is a Scottish newspaper published in Edinburgh. ... The Scotsmans offices in Edinburgh The Scotsman is a Scottish newspaper published in Edinburgh. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... January 19 is the 19th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... January 21 is the 21st day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... February 1 is the 32nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... February 7 is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... February 21 is the 52nd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The current BBC News logo BBC News and Current Affairs is a major arm of the BBC responsible for the corporations newsgathering and production of news programmes on BBC television, radio and online. ... March 2 is the 61st day of the year (62nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The Sunday Times is a Sunday broadsheet newspaper distributed in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland, published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News International which is in turn owned by News Corporation. ... January 15 is the 15th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Guardian is a British newspaper owned by the Guardian Media Group. ... January 16 is the 16th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... Wikipedia does not yet have an article with this exact name. ... April 16 is the 106th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (107th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... This article deals with The Daily Telegraph in Britain, see The Daily Telegraph (Australia) for the Australian publication The Daily Telegraph is a British broadsheet newspaper founded in 1855. ... June 3 is the 154th day of the year (155th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2007 (MMVII) is the current year, a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar and the AD/CE era. ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 16 is the 75th day of the year (76th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 21 is the 80th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (81st in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 22 is the 81st day of the year (82nd in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Times is a national newspaper published daily in the United Kingdom since 1785, and under its current name since 1788. ... March 17 is the 76th day of the year (77th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 18 is the 77th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (78th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 31 is the 90th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (91st in leap years), with 275 days remaining. ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 19 is the 78th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (79th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 26 is the 85th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (86th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The British Broadcasting Corporation, usually known as the BBC, is the largest broadcasting corporation in the world in terms of audience numbers, employing 26,000 staff in the United Kingdom alone and with a budget of more than GBÂ£4 billion. ... March 20 is the 79th day of the year in the Gregorian Calendar (80th in leap years). ... For the Manfred Mann album, see 2006 (album). ... The Daily Mail is a British tabloid newspaper first published in 1896. ... August 24 is the 236th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (237th in leap years), with 129 days remaining. ... shelby was here 2004 (MMIV) was a leap year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Contents

Background

Chai Patel

1997 Labour Party commitments

Loans

Full list of Labour Party contributions

Conservative Party loans

Criminal investigation

Connection with education funding

Political reaction

Labour Party

Tony Blair

Charles Clarke

Sir Jeremy Beecham

Harriet Harman

Diane Abbott

Clare Short

Ian McCartney

John Prescott

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Conservative Party

David Cameron

Francis Maude

Liberal Democrats

Sir Menzies Campbell

Police file sent to Crown Prosecution Service

Previous instances

References

See also

External links

Contents

Background GA_googleFillSlot("encyclopedia_square");

Chai Patel

1997 Labour Party commitments

Loans

Full list of Labour Party contributions

Conservative Party loans

Criminal investigation

Connection with education funding

Political reaction

Labour Party

Tony Blair

Charles Clarke

Sir Jeremy Beecham

Harriet Harman

Diane Abbott

Clare Short

Ian McCartney

John Prescott

Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Conservative Party

David Cameron

Francis Maude

Liberal Democrats

Sir Menzies Campbell

Police file sent to Crown Prosecution Service

Previous instances

References

See also

External links

Background