The beginning of the end for Bliar?

[flamesong]

'It doesn't get much more serious than this'
BBC Corresponant, Nick Robinson

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/5173860.stm

Labour fundraiser Levy arrested

Lord Levy is a close friend of Tony Blair
Tony Blair's chief fundraiser Lord Levy has been arrested in connection with the "cash-for-honours" inquiry by the Metropolitan Police.
Lord Levy, 61, made his money in the 1960s and 1970s, managing singers including Alvin Stardust and Chris Rea.

He was one of the key figures in the securing of the multi-million pound loans to the party last year.

Lord Levy, Mr Blair's regular tennis partner, has not been charged with any offence. All involved deny wrongdoing.

Wide-ranging investigation
Asked if he had any reaction to the news that Lord Levy had been arrested, the prime minister's official spokesman said: "I cannot comment on that, it is a party matter."

He confirmed the peer was still the prime minister's Middle East envoy.

A Scotland Yard spokesman would not confirm whether Lord Levy had been arrested, but did say a man had been arrested by the Specialist Crime Directorate of the Metropolitan Police in connection with inquiries into possible breaches of honours and election laws.

The spokesman said the man had been asked to attend a London police station on Wednesday morning and questioned about possible infringements of the Honours (Prevention of Abuses ) Act 1925 and the Political Parties Elections and Referendums Act.

Scotland Yard is conducting a wide-ranging investigation into loans and donations made to all three parties to see if there is any evidence that honours have been given as rewards for financial help.

It was prompted by the revelation earlier this year that a number of multi-million pound loans were secretly given to Labour before the last election, and that some of the lenders had subsequently been nominated by Tony Blair for peerages.

'Fate intertwined'
BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said the arrest was "deeply damaging for Tony Blair" because Lord Levy is a particular friend of the prime minister.

He said the fate of Lord Levy and Mr Blair was "intertwined". "It doesn't get much more serious than this," he said.

A spokesman for Labour said the party "has and will continue to cooperate fully with this police investigation and, because of the ongoing nature of the investigation, we will not be commenting further".

Angus MacNeil, the Scottish Nationalist Party MP who initiated the police inquiry, called for a freeze on all future honours until the investigation is completed.

"This is a significant development and one that would appear to justify my decision to report this matter to the police," he said.

For the Conservatives the shadow home secretary David Davis said Lord Levy's arrest demonstrates "that the police are taking the cash for peereages question very seriously".

He added: "I want this issue cleared up once and for all in British politics."

[flamesong]

There seems to be an assumption that if there is any kind of leadership issue in the Labour Party - triggered by stuff like this and Prescott - that Gordon Brown is a shoe-in. Brown has already demonstrated by his support for the renewal of Britain's nuclear defence that he isn't going to stray very far from Blair's agenda.

However, 9/11 sceptic Michael Meacher is widely believed to be prepared to throw his hat in the ring. How can we support him if he does?

[Andrew Johnson]

[flamesong]

[DeFecToR]

I would whole-heartedly support Michael Meacher. The problem however is not the level of public support he would have for a leadership run but how much party support he would have. And i'm affraid he's seen as somewhat of a pariah amongst labour members.

[Leiff]

The only way to directly affect the result of any Labour leadership election is to join the Labour Party and take part in the election.

I won't be joining Labour by the way!

[alkmyst]

[insidejob]

Why is this funding investigation being taken seriously by the police? We all assumed that the funding scandal would be quietly forgotten but no. What is behind this?

I think members of the criminal, banking cabal have concluded that the public have lost faith in both of their political vehicles - New Labour and Tories. They fear that both parties are unable to con the electorate into going along with neo-liberal policies. If Blair goes, then Labour may experience a shift to the left whether Brown likes it or not. Cameron has worked quite well but given recent bye-elections not well enough. The solution - a new so-called 'centre' party that will carry on the neo-liberal agenda.

If Labour is broken up then voters won't have any centre-left party likely to get into to party to vote for. They will be forced to vote for a new party based on left Tories, New Labour and Lib Dems. They will take forward the New Labour con pretend to be progressive but enacting neo-liberal policies.

But to do this, they will have to break up the parties. If Cameron pretends to shift left, he will alienate traditional Tories. While a funding crisis can torpedo Labour. Thus, the funding investigation is being taken seriously.

[John White]

I could support Meacher on the basis of:

"Well, heres a politician who has at least got ONE thing right"

But I dont feel under illusions about his ability as a whole

[Garcon Warrior]

The 9/11 Truth Campaign is to me about the corruption of our government's which at most the american government has killed 3 thousand of there own citizens so they could go to war for profit's of the corporation's there administration has ties to. Over the past 40 years we have seen the fruition of the long term objectives of the neo-cons finally taking place in our times.

The scandal that's taking place at the moment goes so deep I feel that when the truth finally comes out and the people who have caused these crimes against the human race are brought to justice our political system's will be brought down with them. There has been a lot of speculation of people higher than the governments owning both major party's so we are voting really for one party whoever gets in. We have the new Labour Prime Minister to be Gordon Brown already stating he wants to spend 25 billion on a new Trident system. And for the Conservative's we have Mr Cameron who voted yes to going to war in Iraq.

When we defeat the evil thats going on in this world are we really going to want to go back to a Democrat/Repuplican, Labour/Conservative governed country?

[Martin Conner]

Politics is the plaything of the plutocrat!

People are programmed to follow the outlook projected through mass media. It is the media and its connections who ‘manage’ civilisation. An obsequient civilisation blinded by consumerism, celebrity and the capitalist paradigm.

Humanity must shatter the illusions predicated from a pulpit by an inbreeding clan of malfunctioning trailer trash. (Murdoch et al). IMO, we cannot solve the problems of today with the same thinking that created them.

Trying to establish meaningful results adhering to the protocols of the current political framework is a desolate exercise.

With the recent attacks against the almighty Israel from Lebanon, and the subsequent retaliation against Lebanon’s airport and coastal structures, the biblical apocalypse is taking yet another step towards Armageddon.

[Dr Hemp]

[Leiff]

The sad fact is that our political system is no longer 'fit for purpose'.

[flamesong]

I keep hearing the word 'theatrical' being used by Levy and his representatives. I am starting to get the feeling that this might all be a huge stunt to clean up Blair's image.

If the parties being investigated accuse the police of overdoing it, it makes it look like the police are doing a good job in the public interest. After an exhaustive investigation, no wrongdoings are found (or perhaps, like the Hutton enquiry, there might be an insignificant rap on the knuckles for minor negligence, just for effect) and Blair can claim that he has been vindicated.

Somehow I can't see fellow apron wearers stitching each other up unless it is a sacrifice to benefit the ongoing agenda.

[numeral]

Killer e-mail' sends Blair into panic over cash for honours row

[John White]

Who said the press never carries any positive stories?