News reaches me, from a source who does not wish to be named that the BBC has unearthed an email, connected to the cash for peerages inquiry. This email has allegedly got Lord Levy's hands all over it. In short it smells, is what I have heard.
I also understand that the government has taken out an injunction preventing the BBC publishing the email or running the story.
Now I don't know how accurate what I have heard is, but I wonder if anyone is going to deny it.
Update, 22:10
The BBC confirms that there has been an injunction, on Radio 4, and also on the ticker on their website here.
Iain Dale also has this.
Update 22.35
The BBC website now has this, and Nick Robinson has confirmed the story on the BBC news!
Update 4th March, 19:44
Massive hat tip to Julian for the story!
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29 comments:
So did Levy allegedly write the mail, or are you saying that it simply appears to refer to actions which he may or may not have taken in respect to suggesting people for preferment?
Anonymous, I am unable to add more at this time I am afraid.
c'mon! we want the juicy details!!!
Well, Gammarama I can't say how much more detail I could add.
As soon as I have more that I can legally add I will.
I am sorry to disappoint.
Gosh, and people say politics are corrupt over here!
How come you and Iain Dale have this Benedict and Guido doesn't?
Welshcake, No comment :)
Peter, Guido does not seem to blog much after Friday Lunch time for some reason. It is one of the reasons I do a Sunday update on this if there is much to report.
BBC 10pm news has just reported the injunction. Nick Robinson to report..
IanP, Many thanks. That confirms my story!
Oh dear. Poor Lord levy!
Great scoop, Benedict. (And Iain Dale.)
Many thanks Peter!
y'see ... Guido's just like the MSM journos really - useless after lunch on Friday.
That's good work, Benedict.
It'll be interesting to see whether, in this day and age, an injunction is worth the paper it's written on.
Anonymous, I am not going to comment on Guido :)
Mr Eugenides, Many thanks, No I don't think it is. I am awaiting further news.
Any one one to send me a copy of the actual email?
:)
Nice one Benedict! Will be keeping tuned to your page.
How come Iain has it tagged at Levy and Guido as Turner??
amillionpieces, Many thanks, just doing an update.
Ian, How come, because Iain has the correct info and Guido doesn't yet?
Well that's fantastic news! I hope the police are watching for unannounced flights to Tel Aviv before he does a Porter. Cheers!
Ian, I should have emailed some friends to check how the weather is in Tel Aviv and included it in the article!
Congratulations.
Guido, many thanks.
Could you have a word with Tim Ireland for me? All I need is a boycott organised by him and I hit the real big time :)
Truly magnanimous of you Guido under the circumstances
Excellent effort - we are now seeing New Labour's high crimes and misdemeanours being played out as soap opera. The worst possible news management issues for Downing Street - whereas Joe Public didn't really give a toss before, this injunction will get them interested. There is no good outcome at this point. Either charges are laid - and Blair goes very soon; or no charges are laid, and the public feels cheated of a juicy trial and says it has all been hushed up. Either way they get punished by the voters.
My only concern in all this is the fear that our stomping around on this somehow gives him/her/them a "get out of jail free" card. The AG can say he tried to do all he could to ensure a fair trial, but, you know how it is with all these bloggers... Fun though it is, I fear we are playing into the only way they have of getting out of this mess. The injunction was granted - so the law has decided that we are not supposed to know the matters it covers. Not yet, anyway. And the reason is that it would be prejudicial to the interests of justice if we did know. I for one will be happy to remain in blissful ignorance - if it means this crew ultimatley get banged to rights!
BBC is now reporting that Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell told BBC Two's Newsnight that "the attorney general acts in the public interest, and in particular, he's got an interest to ensure that no possible prosecution is prejudiced or that no possible defence to a prosecution is prejudiced".
He added: "I think what one might be able to infer from the fact that he felt it necessary to seek this injunction is that he at least contemplates the possibility that a prosecution of some kind will follow."
Marquee Mark, I agree that new Labour are sinking in sleaze, part of the problem though is that they are dragging politics down with them!
Benedict,
I agree that New Labour sleaze is dragging down politics - that is part of their plan to minimise the impact of this affair. Where the plan has come apart is the current focus by Knacker on the cover up. Before, they could run the "all parties do this/have done this since time began" interference. But with a cover up - conspiring to pervert the course of justice, no less - they are in their own private hell.
So you can be sure that warped and devious minds are trying to think of everything in the play book to find a way out.
So take care - you and others may be being played. That is all I would counsel. Let's not have the Blogs take bait they put down - and give them their escape route to salvage a party that can at least limp into the next election. I want them pulverised for posterity...
Well done on your scoop, what a great contact you have.
it's not a time for soundbites....
but i'm sure Blair does feel the hand of history (or scotland yard) on his shoulder....
Anonymous at 2.54, No, but if it was that would be the one!
ROFLMAO!
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