Police grill Tony Blair in cash-for-honours probe

London, Dec 15: British Prime Minister Tony Blair was questioned today by police as part of the cash-for-honours inquiry.

Scotland Yard officers arrived at 10 Downing Street at 1100 hrs and subjected the prime minister to a two-hour grilling.

A spokesman for Mr Blair said the premier denied that peerages had been offered for sale. The prime minister was not cautioned but interviewed as a witness without the presence of a lawyer.

The spokesman said, ''The prime minister spoke to police today in Downing Street. This was not under caution, nor was he accompanied by a lawyer.'' He gave explanations of why he nominated individuals for peerages, the spokesman added. Scotland Yard said they were not planning to make any statement on the interview.

Angus MacNeil, the SNP MP who triggered the police investigation, said, ''this revelation will shake the very foundation of Westminster. For the Prime Minister to be questioned by the police during a criminal investigation is unprecedented.'' A Conservative Party spokesman refused to comment on the development.

The move follows months of speculation over whether and when Mr Blair would receive a knock on the door from the team led by the acting Deputy Assistant Commissioner, John Yates.

Mr Blair's spokesman denied that the interview had been deliberately timed to coincide with the release of the Stevens inquiry report into the death of Diana, Princess of Wales.

The inquiry is taking a dual approach; looking at the 2005 working peerages list and any offences in that period relating to the 1925 Honours (Prevention of Abuse) Act and the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000, which covers party funding and the presentation of accounts.

UNI