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Blair Interviewed by Scotland Yard

British Prime Minister, Tony Blair was questioned Thursday by Scotland Yard investigators regarding suspicion that Blair handed honors in return for loans to his party, his office said. Members of the Downing 10 staff stressed that Blair was not investigated under warning and that he wasn`t assisted by an attorney.

The Cash-for-Honors scandal broke out after Labor Party supporter, Dr. Chai Patel, complained that his appointment to the House of Lords, the British parliament`s upper house, was taking too much time. Patel, who is CEO of Priory Clinics, donated nearly $2 million and lent another $2.6 million to the Labor Party, in August 2005. Following the exposure, the Scottish National Party demanded that Britain`s two major parties, Labor and Conservative, be investigated regarding donations and loans they received before last years elections allegedly in return for the promotion of the nominations of people who were later appointed to the House of Lords. The police has interviewed approximately 90 people in relation to the case, including several of Blair`s cabinet members and his close adviser the Lord Michel Levi, one of the Labor Party`s most influential figures and biggest benefactors.

In the communiqu? given by Blair`s office it was said that Blair`s interview lasted about 2 hours, in which Blair explained the reasons behind each of his recommendations for nominees for the House of Lords. British commentators said that the fact that Blair wasn`t investigated under warning showed that the investigation, which is set to be concluded in January, doesn`t see Blair as a suspect and doesn?t plan to press charges against him.