'No charges' over UK cash-for-honours

The long-running British investigation into cash-for-honours allegations is expected to end with no charges brought against former…

The long-running British investigation into cash-for-honours allegations is expected to end with no charges brought against former prime minister Tony Blair or members of his inner circle.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will today announce that no one will be charged with any offence.

The Metropolitan Police inquiry was launched in March last year after allegations from Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil that four wealthy individuals had been nominated for peerages after lending  the Labour Party large sums of money.

The individuals were among 12 rich backers who together bankrolled Labour's 2005 General Election campaign with loans worth almost £14 million.

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Mr Blair was questioned three times by police during the course of the investigation - always as a witness, not a suspect.

Four people were arrested, Mr McTernan, Lord Levy, Downing Street aide Ruth Turner and biotech tycoon Sir Christopher Evans, who loaned Labour £1 million.

A close aide of Mr Blair said that he and his former Downing Street colleagues were "massively relieved" at the news that they would apparently not face court over the alleged sale of honours or perversion of the course of justice.

But there was anger from some Labour figures that the police investigation into complaints made by opposition MPs was allowed to drag on for 13 months, while damaging headlines about alleged sleaze dominated the newspaper front pages.

Some observers believe that the ongoing inquiry contributed to forcing Mr Blair out of power earlier than he had intended, as well as costing Labour votes in May's elections in Scotland, Wales and local councils.

PA