HONOURS POLICE ARREST BLAIR AIDE !
Ms Turner stood for Labour in the 1999 European Parliament election. Downing Street political adviser Ruth Turner has become the fourth person to be arrested by police investigating the cash-for-honours allegations.
Ms Turner, a senior aide to Tony Blair, was arrested at 0630 GMT at her home but was later released on police bail.
She was quizzed for several hours over alleged honours offences and suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
The police inquiry team has spoken to about 90 people so far including Mr Blair. All deny wrongdoing.
Ms Turner, the director of government relations was arrested in September and questioned about alleged honours before being released without charge.
A Downing Street source told the BBC officials had been "taken aback" by Miss Turner's latest arrest but Mr Blair was giving her his full support.
Police sources have told the BBC their investigations may take longer than expected after this latest development.
'Key figure'
Angus MacNeill, the SNP MP who sparked the cash for honours probe, said: "I think it just underlines the seriousness of the situation facing Downing Street, something they haven't fully faced up to."
However much the government and the prime minister want this to go away it won't
Vincent CableLiberal Democrats
He said "water is now lapping around Tony Blair's neck" and he hoped Downing Street would not try and spin its way out of the situation.
Mr Blair and former Tory leader Michael Howard are among those who have been questioned by police over the issue.
But until Friday only three people had been arrested, Lord Levy, the Labour Party's chief fundraiser, Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans and head teacher Des Smith, who was involved in the government's City Academy programme.
No one has been charged.
The inquiry began after it emerged that a number of large secret loans had been made to the Labour Party before the 2005 general election, and that some of those lenders had subsequently been nominated for peerages.
The investigation has since widened to cover the other main parties.
Scotland Yard had been expected to hand over a file on the case in January to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether any charges should be brought.
But a police spokesman said: "As a result of this new development additional investigation will be required before a final file can be submitted to the CPS."
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable told the BBC the allegations were doing "a lot of damage" to the credibility of the government and showed the need for rapid agreement on party funding and reform of the House of Lords.
"However much the government and the prime minister want this to go away it won't," he said.
Ms Turner, a senior aide to Tony Blair, was arrested at 0630 GMT at her home but was later released on police bail.
She was quizzed for several hours over alleged honours offences and suspicion of perverting the course of justice.
The police inquiry team has spoken to about 90 people so far including Mr Blair. All deny wrongdoing.
Ms Turner, the director of government relations was arrested in September and questioned about alleged honours before being released without charge.
A Downing Street source told the BBC officials had been "taken aback" by Miss Turner's latest arrest but Mr Blair was giving her his full support.
Police sources have told the BBC their investigations may take longer than expected after this latest development.
'Key figure'
Angus MacNeill, the SNP MP who sparked the cash for honours probe, said: "I think it just underlines the seriousness of the situation facing Downing Street, something they haven't fully faced up to."
However much the government and the prime minister want this to go away it won't
Vincent CableLiberal Democrats
He said "water is now lapping around Tony Blair's neck" and he hoped Downing Street would not try and spin its way out of the situation.
Mr Blair and former Tory leader Michael Howard are among those who have been questioned by police over the issue.
But until Friday only three people had been arrested, Lord Levy, the Labour Party's chief fundraiser, Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans and head teacher Des Smith, who was involved in the government's City Academy programme.
No one has been charged.
The inquiry began after it emerged that a number of large secret loans had been made to the Labour Party before the 2005 general election, and that some of those lenders had subsequently been nominated for peerages.
The investigation has since widened to cover the other main parties.
Scotland Yard had been expected to hand over a file on the case in January to the Crown Prosecution Service, which will decide whether any charges should be brought.
But a police spokesman said: "As a result of this new development additional investigation will be required before a final file can be submitted to the CPS."
Lib Dem Treasury spokesman Vincent Cable told the BBC the allegations were doing "a lot of damage" to the credibility of the government and showed the need for rapid agreement on party funding and reform of the House of Lords.
"However much the government and the prime minister want this to go away it won't," he said.
BBC NEWS REPORT.
posted by jackaranda at 4:10 pm
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