Honours probe: Levy delighted

The Crown Prosecution Service has confirmed that no charges are to be brought after the extensive cash for honours investigation.Officials said there was not enough evidence to mount a successful prosecution.Head of the CPS Special Crime Division Carmen Dowd said: "Having considered all of the evidence in this case I have decided that there is insufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction against any individual for any offence in relation to this matter."Former prime minister Tony Blair was questioned three times and his fundraiser Lord Levy and Downing Street aide Ruth Turner were both arrested and are currently on police bail.Mr Blair said some of those involved in the inquiry had suffered a "traumatic" time and added that he was pleased the investigation was now over.Detectives spent 16 months investigating allegations about peerages being traded for donations to the Labour Party.Welcoming the decision, Lord Levy thanked his family and legal team for standing by him during what he said was an "incredibly long and extremely stressful" period."I am sincerely delighted and relieved to put this all behind me," he said."Since the investigation began I have had every confidence that no charges would be brought against me."Nevertheless it comes as a great relief that after a complete and thorough investigation which has been assessed by the country's leading legal experts I have been exonerated as we expected."I do not intend to comment on the police's handling of this inquiry. I am sure that if there are any issues which need to be looked at, others who are much more experienced and better qualified will do so."However, I have been disappointed by the constant leaks to the media which have been misleading, factually inaccurate and personally damaging to me."I have always believed in the importance of public service and in the duty of individuals to be willing to serve our country."Mr Blair added: "This investigation has ended as I always expected it would."Those involved have been through a terrible, even traumatic time. Much of what has been written and said about them has been deeply unfair, and I am very pleased for all of them that it is now over."Mr Blair said that he placed no criticism against the police.Prime Minister Gordon Brown said he hoped the decision would "bring an end to what has been now months of speculation".Asked about the investigation at a Paris press conference after talks with French President Nicolas Sarkozy, he said: "I cannot really comment on the Crown Prosecution Service or any police investigation because I have not seen any public statement."What I can say is that these were very serious allegations, it's right that the police investigated these matters and I hope that once the police make the statement and the Crown Prosecution Service makes it clear, that we can bring an end to what has been now months of speculation."Asked about party funding, he said: "Proposals are already on the table and we should move ahead to try and get a better system of political funding in our country."The inquiry was launched after allegations from Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil that four wealthy individuals had been nominated for peerages after lending Labour large sums of money.A total of 136 people have been questioned over the course of the investigation, either as witnesses or suspects and 6,300 documents have been passed to prosecutors.In a nine-page document explaining its decision, the CPS said political or public opinion had played no part in its analysis of the facts.There was no direct evidence that an agreement was reached between any of the parties to exchange an honour in return for a loan.The CPS was also satisfied "beyond doubt" that "the available evidence was not sufficient to enable an overwhelming inference to be drawn" that there was such an agreement.© Independent Television News Limited 2007. All rights reserved.

ITN | July 20, 2007