Howard quizzed in police loans probe
Former Conservative leader Michael Howard has been questioned by police investigating the loans for honours row.
The MP for Folkestone and Hythe said in a statement last night he had been interviewed “as a witness”, not under caution, and was not under suspicion of committing a crime.
The decision to interview Mr Howard has increased speculation that Scotland Yard will interview Tony Blair. Downing Street said the prime minister has yet to be questioned.
Police launched an inquiry after it emerged four businessmen who gave Labour £4.5 million in undeclared loans were subsequently nominated by the party for a peerage.
Since then, their investigations – which relate alleged abuses of the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925 and the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 – have been extended to the Tories, who borrowed £16 million from 13 wealthy backers.
In his statement, Mr Howard said: “In response to a request from the police, I agreed to be interviewed by them in connection with their inquiries into nominations for peerages.
“The police emphasised that they wanted to interview me as a witness and that I was not under suspicion of having committed any criminal offence.
“The interview was not conducted under caution. It took place this morning at my home in London.”
Three people have so far been arrested as part of the investigation – Lord Levy, the prime minister’s chief fundraiser and personal Middle East envoy; Des Smith, a head teacher involved in the city academies programme; and tycoon Christopher Evans.
Last month, Ruth Turner, Mr Blair’s director of government relations, was interviewed by Scotland Yard officials under caution. She is one of several senior figures to have been questioned, from both Labour and the Conservatives.
The Metropolitan police refused to comment on the investigation last night, saying only: “A number of people have been interviewed during the course of the inquiry.”
Speaking to BBC News 24, Mr Howard’s former parliamentary secretary, Alistair Burt MP, said it was “not a surprise” that police wanted to talk to the former Tory leader, as they must be “even-handed” in their probe.
“It would be more unusual if this was orientated towards one particular political party than any other. Hopefully it will make the conclusion of the police that much stronger if they have interviewed everybody that they could,” he said.
