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Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages

TrueLabour Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 09:27:57 AM GMT Facebook

For what must be the 5th day in a row the papers have yet more stories on the Cash for Peerages police enquiries.

Yes I did say POLICE.

Yet on this site we seem blissfully unaware that it is going on. Our own "Peeragegate" yet the matter is not discussed.......

This morning it emerges that Gordon has been sent questions by the police and other NEC members.

It was the drip, drip , drip of scandals that did for the Tories. Are we not witnessing the same?

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tags: CFH Party Funding (all tags)

Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages | 22 comments (22 topical)

Re: Another Day Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#1)

by swatantra on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 10:12:38 AM GMT

Good to know that the Police are taking it seriously. Trouble is the fallout is so unpredictable who knows who will get hurt. Prepare yourself for some distinguished names to come a cropper.

Re: Another Day Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#2)

by Mark Wadsworth on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 10:29:33 AM GMT

Yippee say I!

Seeing as politicians don't seem to care about policy or implementation any more and have dragged the whole thing down to a level of spectator sport, this makes for fantastic entertainment!

Over on political betting they are already discussing odds for Tony Blair getting collared.

Re: Another Day Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#3)

by alexhilton on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 11:05:22 AM GMT

I would say I'm neither blissful nor unaware of this subject. However, it's very difficult for the accused to make their case for defence before they have actually been accused.

It might be corruption - or an error of proceedure - or indeed it might be found that nothing had gone awry. However, ambitious police officers often have the attitude that everyone is guilty of something - which may well be true - and I suspect they're going to chip away on this until they get something on someone.

Once charges have been brought, we'll start to hear the defence side of this case, which should throw up some interesting facts.

In the meantime, I wonder how many of us would be able to withstand the scrutiny of a team of Scotland Yard's finest searching through our activities to see if they can get something on us?

: Re: Another Day Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#4)

by TrueLabour on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 02:23:53 PM GMT

What has Hazel Blears done with all this muck being chucked at the Labour parties image?
Has she had an internal investigation?
Or does she see it as none of her business? She is the Chairman of the Party when I last checked.
Do we really have to wait for charges before sorting out our internal affairs?
This is the Labour party not the Tory party.

[ Parent ]

Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#5)

by Loz on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 08:14:12 PM GMT

This whole scandal stinks for the labour party.

The ammount involved in these loans going on to be offered peerages is simply too great to be a coincidence.

What the hell were they thinking?

But we should not forget also that the tories are in murky water here (hence the reason they are really quite silent) and also, that the lib dems are equally as corrupt in the sense they took money from a criminal to the tune of 2 million pounds, and when it was proven this money came basically from theft, they have no done the right thing.

And this was no small matter, the guy lent kennedy his private aircraft so their clearly was quite a relationship at some level.

Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#6)

by TrueLabour on Wed Nov 08, 2006 at 10:33:36 PM GMT

Top story on this site is "leaderless Dems" in USA...............

Just HTF is THAT the lead story?

The Democrats in USA have just achieved one of the largest mid-term successes. Yet the Blairites on here put a story saying the Dems are weak as the top story.

And on the BBC news, it is Labour's interviews with police that is the biggest UK story.

If Blair was arrested would it make the lead story on here?

[ Parent ]

Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#8)

by Glass House on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 10:20:06 AM GMT

the Blairites on here put a story saying the Dems are weak as the top story

eh?

[ Parent ]

: Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#10)

by TrueLabour on Fri Nov 10, 2006 at 05:48:54 PM GMT

Glass house asked "eh?"
How about seeing that no stories on "peeragegate" are listed in the "top Stories" on this site.
Someone is being very selective in what they think are important matters about the Labour party.
We have now had over a week of the story being in the main news. But on Labour Home there is silence, apart from this thread.

[ Parent ]

Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#7)

by TrueLabour on Thu Nov 09, 2006 at 10:08:10 AM GMT

This morning's newspapers

Guardian "The cash for honours investigation struck at the heart of government yesterday when it was revealed that police have written to every member of the Labour cabinet asking them to explain in writing what they knew of the funding of the party's election campaign and any offer of honours to key donors."
http://politics.guardian.co.uk/funding/story/0,,1942898,00.html

Telegraph "The Prime Minister and his advisers are mortified by the prospect of officers crossing the Downing Street threshold in the glare of television cameras that would broadcast the images around the world. One Whitehall source said last night: "They are in a state of near meltdown over this. It is the only issue that Blair's advisers can focus on. It is dominating everything else. They just don't know how this will play out. The last thing they want is the police coming in for a cosy chat. They are not going to let it happen."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2006/11/09/nloans09.xml

: Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#9)

by TrueLabour on Fri Nov 10, 2006 at 05:45:55 PM GMT

We have now had a week on this and today's Independent has the most worrying reports.
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1962995.ece
" Tony Blair is one of only two cabinet ministers who knew the party agreed to accept secret loans from rich supporters, Scotland Yard's "cash for honours" inquiry is to be told.
The only other minister who knew was Ian McCartney, the former Labour chairman, who gave "party authority" to the system of loans but strongly denies knowing who made them.
There is growing alarm in Labour circles that Mr Blair could become the main focus of the Metropolitan Police inquiry, amid speculation that a Downing Street staff member is proving "extremely helpful" to the investigation.
Mr McCartney, now the Minister for Trade, signed certificates when four businessmen who had provided loans were nominated for peerages, saying they had not donated money to the party. He is adamant that this was not a misleading statement because he did not know they were lenders at the time.
The latest twist in the Metropolitan Police inquiry could leave Mr Blair dangerously isolated. Some Labour insiders believe the Prime Minister may have been the only politician to know that the four businessmen had a financial relationship with Labour when he nominated them for seat in the House of Lords."

[ Parent ]

Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#11)

by bornin84 on Fri Nov 10, 2006 at 08:05:16 PM GMT

TrueLabour, I'm not really sure what you are trying to get at here. Everyone in the country knows there is an investigation going on into so called Cash for Peerages.

Yes it is an issue, but what can we do? What is there to discuss? Are we not better off discussing issues of more 'current' interest, such as US Election, the next Deputy Leader, Iraq, ID Cards, the BNP!?!

Some of the specualtion in the newspapers and online (particularly Guido) is rather ridiculous at times!! For example, above, what the fuck is a "Whitehall source", is this supposed to be someone close to the police investigation, someone close to No.10 or a member of the Tory party, a civil servant or some guy who spends his whole day down the pub?

I wonder if the police sending letters to Cabinet ministers is just an attempt to try and get some information because the police have nothing! If you have anything new and interesting to say then please share it with us, otherwise we'll wait and see what happens!

Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#12)

by Loz on Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 05:08:21 PM GMT

I would also ask the guy who has been convicted, who has been charged?

Lots of important stories don't make it to the fron page as such, big deal.

If you want to post about it fine, but its an ongoing investigation, of which any developments at this time are a part of.

The police questioned michael howard as well on this matter, and are questioning several cabinet matters. I believe the explanation is that they are trying to learn about how the honors system works. I don't find that all that appealing, but should any criminal proceedings come of this, I'm sure it will get the discussion it deserves.

[ Parent ]

: Re: Another Day, Another Day of Casages (#22)

by Anonymous on Wed Nov 22, 2006 at 01:38:55 PM GMT

fggggAAAAAAAAAAAAAA

[ Parent ]

Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#13)

by TrueLabour on Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 05:10:13 PM GMT

bornin84 said "Yes it is an issue, but what can we do? What is there to discuss? Are we not better off discussing issues of more 'current' interest, such as US Election, the next Deputy Leader, Iraq, ID Cards, the BNP!?!"

You seem content to bury your head in the sand on our parties issues and focus on matters like the US election.... This site is about the Labour Party!

How about discussing how to strengthen the party so that we never need to rely on such donations?

How about discussing what needs to change in the party's organisation to prevent such abuse by the next leader? Where is there any sign we are learning from these mistakes?

If our party is badly damaged by these allegations proving to be true we may not have much of a party left to discuss the "other issues"!

This attitude would be similar to Republicans during Watergate focusing their attention on the Mexican elections, the Klu Klux Gang and the RICO act....

[ Parent ]

: Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#15)

by bornin84 on Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 06:04:57 PM GMT

I don't think i'm burying my head in the sand at all! I have after all posted in this thread!
You may not be interested in the US Elections but some of us are! As the most powerful country in the world and a key ally of the UK I think what happens in domestic American politics is going to have an impact around the world! Even more so considering Iraq!
I think we also have a lot to learn from the Democrats (and even the Republicans!) about campaigning! About getting out our core vote and learning to appeal to those we can make a difference to most. About e-campaigning and interacting with both party members, party supporters and the electorate online. About gaining a wider base of support from which to draw funding from and channel through the internet and organisations and groups away from just the 'party machine'.

[ Parent ]

Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#14)

by MM on Sat Nov 11, 2006 at 05:32:38 PM GMT

I think 'TrueLabour' raises some interesting points, it is a little strange that this story is not leading on the site given it's far reaching implications i.e. to the PM, Cabinet and Labour party finances.

I do however disagree with 'TrueLabour' in the sense that how bad the story is for Labour. I'm not sure it's as bad the 'sleaze' stories of the early 90's involving the Tories, then Labour were able to make huge political capital. At the moment neither the Tories nor the Lib Dems have been able to make any political capital out of the story given there own involvement in the loan scandal.

The major thing that annoys me is the way the police investigation has been leaked at every turn (by Yates team no doubt). Not the best way to run a investigation I would suggest, if charges were ever brought I'm sure lawyers would have a field day.

Secondly I'm a little bemused by how Gordon Brown can play 'Mr Innocent' in this whole affair. Did he not run the 2005 election campaign with Milburn? Does he not sit on the NEC? Does he not have huge influence in the party with his so-called 'Brownites'? Does he not meet regularly with his 'best friend Tony'? Surely Brown must have been aware of the loans in the same way he was aware of the Ecclestone donation.

Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#16)

by TrueLabour on Sun Nov 12, 2006 at 11:33:41 AM GMT

MM, a note of support is very welcome.

How bad is the effect of the allegations? You are probably right that so far it has not had the impact of Tory 90s sleaze. But, if people start being charged.....

The Sunday newspapers are full of these stories. Alistair Campbell's "rule" is that if a story makes the 2nd week of coverage it is significant. Well we have passed that metric.

From Sunday Times..... "TONY BLAIR has been accused of misleading Labour's ruling body after claiming he took secret loans because "potential donors" wanted to keep their identities hidden. The Sunday Times has obtained a written record of Blair's justification for the secret loans scheme -- used to fund last year's election -- at a key meeting of Labour's national executive committee (NEC) earlier this year."

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/newspaper/0,,176-2450153,00.html

IOS has a different line.
" The Labour Party concealed from its own auditors the receipt of millions of pounds in loans from businessmen nominated by Tony Blair for Labour peerages, The Independent on Sunday can reveal.

Scotland Yard has now broadened its inquiry to consider allegations that the party produced a false balance sheet and broke the law by failing to disclose £12m-worth of loans in audited annual figures published last year.

The widening of the investigation to look at accounting irregularities will significantly increase the pressure on Mr Blair, who is now considered by the police as the pivotal figure in the inquiry.

The police are looking into allegations that Labour was guilty of the "systematic concealment of liabilities" in its financial accounts, according to sources involved in the investigation."
http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article1963446.ece

[ Parent ]

: Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#17)

by MM on Tue Nov 14, 2006 at 02:24:51 PM GMT

True Labour, it's a bit sad this topic is not more visible on the website when something as trival as the 'Mike Newell v women's refree's' story get's more prominance here.
I personally find it difficult to believe that people will actually get charged, but of course if they do then this story will go way beyond 'Tory sleeze' of the 90's. If Labour people were to be charged then I'm sure Tories would also be charged, also the PM is in effect being tried for the crimes of all past Prime Ministers. So would the Police open investigations against Thatcher and Major if complaints were made against them by Labour MP's? A whole can of worm's have been opened here. The one area that does seem rather suspect is perhaps that Labour's accounting practices were not in order, can the PM be held accountable for this? Will the Police really look press to press charges on such a minor offence after such a long investigation? Perhaps they will to justify the cost of the investigation.
I guess there are two way's of looking at it, the fact the investigation has taken so long is because the police have yet to find anything and are just going through the motions. Or they have found evidence and Labour are in deep trouble. What will be most interesting is if the CPS decide that there are no grounds for charges to be brought, what will the press reaction then? How will the press treat Yates? At the moment he being treated as a National hero by the right wing press, in a simlar way as Hutton was but as soon as Hutton did not give the answer that the press wanted he was charactised as 'Blair poodle'. I wonder if a simlar thing awaits Yates?
I'd be interested to know how many people are talking about the 'cash for peerages' row in everyday life? Because I car'nt recall it being mentioned at all in University life. Perhaps the media coverage of it is going over the heads of most people?

[ Parent ]

Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#18)

by Glass House on Tue Nov 14, 2006 at 04:07:41 PM GMT

I'm afraid, TrueLabour, that I suspect that the true reason is that we're not all falling over ourselves to right self-righteous diatribes comdemning Blair for cash for peerages.

You think that the reason we aren't is because of some Blairite conspiracy.

The real reasons are:

Nobody has been charged
We dont hate Blair
We are exercising a bit of loyalty instead of using the alleged cash for peerages as an excuse to do down the party

You could try a bit of (3) yourself.

: Re: Another Day, Another Day of Cash for Peerages (#19)

by Glass House on Tue Nov 14, 2006 at 04:09:10 PM GMT

that first line should have been:
I'm afraid, TrueLabour, that I suspect that the true reason behind your anger at this "cover up" is that we're not all falling over ourselves to write self-righteous diatribes comdemning Blair over cash for peerages.

[ Parent ]