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Blair aide held in peerages row

Hasan Suroor

Pre-dawn action by police

LONDON: In a surprise move that provoked strong criticism from senior Labour leaders, police arrested one of Prime Minister Tony Blair's most trusted officials in connection with the investigations into the cash-for-peerages row.

Ruth Turner, director of government relations in Downing Street and regarded as a "gatekeeper'' to the Prime Minister, was woken up before dawn on Friday and detained for questioning for several hours on "suspicion of perverting the course of justice'' over allegations that leading businessmen were promised peerage by Labour Party in return for secret loans to its general election campaign in 2005.

Charge denied

Ms. Turner, who was later released on bail without any charge, denied any wrongdoing and Mr. Blair was quick to come out in her support describing her as "a person of the highest integrity'' for whom he had "great regard.''

She is the fourth person to be arrested in connection with the peerages row, but the first from inside Downing Street. Among those arrested last year was Labour Party's chief fundraiser Lord Levy. None has been charged.

Ms. Turner's arrest came weeks after Mr. Blair himself was "interviewed'' by police over his role in the alleged scandal.

In a statement Ms. Turner refuted "any allegation of wrongdoing of any nature whatsoever''. "I have already given the police two lengthy interviews and made it clear to them that I was happy to speak to them again at any stage. I have been completely open with the police throughout and will continue to cooperate with them fully... ''

Police did not give details but media reports said she was understood to have been questioned about some "missing correspondence'' relating to loans and nominations for peerages.

Senior Labour leaders accused the police of staging a drama to grab headlines. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said she was "surprised'' over the manner of arrest.

"She has fully cooperated and she is a person of utter decency and conscientiousness and I am surprised," she told the BBC while the former home secretary, David Blunkett, described the police action as "theatrical.''

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