Did I hear that right?

[brachiopod]

On Newsnight tonight, did David Blunkett really (indirectly) accuse the police of being heavy-handed in the arrest of Lord Levy, insomuch as there was "No need to arrest him as he had presented himself willingly at a police station and was co-operating fully with the police"

And there was me thinking that arrest and detention for 14 days without charge whilst your home is systematically torn apart was the standard response to a "bit of hearsay".

[noxlumos]

There's nothing half so entertaining or terrifying as a big, fat hypocrite is there? Unbelievable.This whole Govt is a disgrace.

[Catso]

Pity they don't bang him up for questioning for the 28, or 60, or 90 days or whatever they're trying to get passed. That would be funny.

[jake-the-peg]

I think it's pretty obvious that Lord Levy was not about to leg it down the street.

It seems equally clear that the purpose of the arrest was to send a very clear signal that they are taking the investigation very seriously.

Seems to have worked

[Dom Tuk]

The Times mentions lack of co-operation from labour officials about providing key documents that has resulted in the 'arrest'. Now it is not a request to hand over documents its a 'demand' that has to be complied with. I suspect the news that the yard have obtained software to recover deleted emails means that the poor labour official who spend long hours clicking 'select all' and then 'delete' has wasted his or her time. Ah what fun......

[jake-the-peg]

I wouldn't gloat too soon Dom.

As I recall the Tories were the ones who started all this loans business, labour and the Lib Dems even jumped on the bandwagon.

As party leaders from the other major parties put forward names for the honour system I dare say this investigation may well widen.

Of course nobody seems to want to take up the obvious solution which is the abolition of the honours system

[Dom Tuk]

No not just abolition but take away the honours of all those who have donated to any party in the past. That way it will be fun when they order new business cards with the title back to Mr or Mrs/Ms.

[Catso]

Ohhh yeeessss! Go back and cross-reference 'loans' with honours and demote them back to Mr(s). Me, gloat?

[Pippa68]

I heard on the news this morning that Blair could be arrested too. Oh my!

[WendyS]

Since politicians are clearly totally incapable of impartially administering any kind of Honours system, I think they hould be stripped of all these powers and the Sovereign alone with a team of non political advisors, should have the power to recommend them. Then perhaps all the real non-sung heros, instead of celebs. would get a well-deserved award.

As for Lord Levy's arrest, why should politicians be above the law? . Let's face it, they've spent the last eight years imposing more and more idiotic,irrelevant or impractical laws on the rest of us. Time for a dose of their own medicine I say.

[ianess]

Why is it that under English law everyone appears to be "arrested" wheras in Scotland people are said to be "assisting the police with their enquiries"?
In the vast majority of cases no charges are ever brought but the word "arrest" immediately brings with it a suspicion of guilt even when no such thing is even at the stage of being contemplated.

[Catso]

FYI I've posted a question about Prime Ministers being arrested in History.

[brachiopod]

Good point, ianess. Up to a few years ago "assistng with inquiries" was common.

Now, with the help of the meeja [sic], the tabloid point of view is that if you are arrested, then you are obviously guilty.

Especially if you are in the public eye, (MP / footballer / "celebrity" etc.), and inolved in a rape / child abuse offense. Similarly, if you are a Muslim, then any arrest on a 'terrorism' charge, then according to the tabloids, then you must be guilty.

Of course, there are exceptions - all Britons tried and convicted in a foreign court, are, according to the tabloids, obviously innocent.

Of course, the police are happy to arrest anyone and everyone these days, rather than asking them to "help with their inquiries", since it means they can then take fingerprint, blood and/or DNA samples on the flimsiest of suspicions and the the minorest of arrestable offences. This is so they can complete their genetic database 9of the entire UK as soon as they can.