14/07/2006

Two ministers among those questioned by police

Police have already questioned two government ministers during the course of the "cash for honours" investigation.

Both Science Minister Lord Sainsbury and Trade Minister Ian McCartney have confirmed that they were questioned by police investigating the cash for honours allegations.

Retail millionaire Lord Sainsbury is one of the Labour Party's main benefactors, lending the party £2m before the election.

However, it emerged that Lord Sainsbury had disclosed a donation, also of £2m made to the party, but had failed to disclose the loan.

Mr McCartney, as Labour Party Chairman, had been involved in the nomination process for new peers.

It was reported that he was also questioned by police "voluntarily".

Neither is understood to have been cautioned by police.

Lord Sainsbury was facing a probe into an alleged breach of ministerial codes in April.

He admitted to not disclosing the £2m loan made to the Labour party, but he had disclosed the £2m donation.

A mix-up between the loan and the donation was blamed on the failure to disclose the loan.

Lord Sainsbury apologised for "unintentionally" misleading the public.

At a press conference today, Prime Minister Tony Blair today dismissed claims that his position at the G8 conference in St. Petersburg, Russia would be affected by the affair.

He said: "You wouldn’t expect me to, and I am not going to comment on any of these inquiries. But I think that the events that are going on at the moment in the Middle East, in relation to the discussions we are having with Iran, in relation to energy and the whole question of energy security and climate change and we will also discuss Africa at the summit. I think you will find that that’s what people want to concentrate on there."

Mr Blair is expected to be questioned in the course of police inquiries.

Yesterday, the policeman heading the inquiry said that 48 people had been interviewed in the course of the inquiry into the allegations.

(SP/EF)

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