Attorney general blocks BBC
Saturday, 3 March 2007 12:00 AM
The BBC has been blocked from reporting new information on the ongoing cash for honours inquiry by the attorney general.
Lord Goldsmith obtained an injunction from the Royal Courts of Justice an hour before BBC1's Ten O'Clock News planned to broadcast the item last night.
The BBC was left to claim the story was a "legitimate matter of public interest", while the attorney general's office insisted that the decision to seek an injunction had been made "completely independently of government" and in cooperation with the Metropolitan police.
A joint statement from Lord Goldsmith and police last night said: "The application for an injunction was made by the attorney general at the specific request of and in co-operation with the police, because of their concern that disclosure of certain information at this stage would impede their inquiries.
"The attorney general acted in this respect completely independently of government and in his independent public interest capacity."
Since last March police have been investigating claims that peerages were offered to wealthy political donors in return for cash loans used to fund campaigns during the 2005 general election.
Four people have been arrested so far as part of the Met's probe, namely Tony Blair's personal fundraiser Lord Levy and aide Ruth Turner, Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans and headteacher Des Smith.
The prime minister himself has been interviewed by police as a witness twice in relation to the affair.
No-one has been charged and all parties deny any wrongdoing
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