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21/04/2006
Cash for peerages probe widened
Police investigating the 'cash for peerages' inquiry have widened the investigation to examine loans given to political parties as far as back as 2001.
The Electoral Commission said that the investigation would now cover loans given to political parties as far as back as 2001, which would include loans made to the Conservatives under the leadership of Iain Duncan Smith.
The probe was launched in response to complaints from Scottish and Welsh nationalist MPs over allegations that wealthy businessmen who lent political parties money had been nominated for peerages.
It followed allegations that the Labour party had received a number of secret loans to help finance their General Election campaign last year.
Four of those businessmen who lent them money last year were subsequently nominated for peerages. However, their names were blocked by an independent watchdog, along with a Conservative nominee who lent the party £2 million.
The police investigation, which is being led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates, has already been widened to cover other political parties.
One person has already been arrested during the course of the investigation. Government advisor Des Smith was arrested by police last week, but was later released. His solicitor reportedly said that Mr Smith would deny any allegations against him.
(KMcA/GB)
The Electoral Commission said that the investigation would now cover loans given to political parties as far as back as 2001, which would include loans made to the Conservatives under the leadership of Iain Duncan Smith.
The probe was launched in response to complaints from Scottish and Welsh nationalist MPs over allegations that wealthy businessmen who lent political parties money had been nominated for peerages.
It followed allegations that the Labour party had received a number of secret loans to help finance their General Election campaign last year.
Four of those businessmen who lent them money last year were subsequently nominated for peerages. However, their names were blocked by an independent watchdog, along with a Conservative nominee who lent the party £2 million.
The police investigation, which is being led by Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates, has already been widened to cover other political parties.
One person has already been arrested during the course of the investigation. Government advisor Des Smith was arrested by police last week, but was later released. His solicitor reportedly said that Mr Smith would deny any allegations against him.
(KMcA/GB)
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