Posted on 01/21/2007 6:43:34 PM PST by blam
Blair likely to quit if aides charged in loans inquiry
Patrick Wintour
Monday January 22, 2007
The Guardian (UK)
Tony Blair is likely to stand down early if charges are brought in the cash-for-honours affair against any of his key aides, including Ruth Turner, arrested on Friday on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. Ministers said they were certain Mr Blair would not seek to stay until his planned departure date of June or July if any of his immediate entourage were charged.
One senior Labour minister told the Guardian: "He knows he would need to do the right thing for the party."
Senior ministers said Mr Blair remained convinced of Ms Turner's innocence and remain doubtful that the police have - as reported at the weekend - hacked into No 10 computers to show that she and other Downing Street aides have not been co-operating with the inquiry team. But while any decision to lay charges would not necessarily lead to convictions, it would represent a dramatic raising of the stakes, and undermine Downing Street's suggestions that the investigation is based on a bogus interpretation of the law. The minister added that if anyone were charged it might become impossible to govern. "The focus would drift away from what he is trying to do."
The Guardian has previously reported that the police had commissioned advice from computer experts in an effort to find deleted emails or computer records.
In an attempt to ease the tension between No 10 and the police over the manner of Ms Turner's arrest, the lord chancellor, Lord Falconer, said it would be best if the government remained silent. Pressed on the subject, he told the BBC: "I think we should just stay out of it."
(Excerpt) Read more at politics.guardian.co.uk ...
What is this?
Normally, I don't put much credit in what the Guardian says. But if they don't know Labour, who does?
Why would Blair quit unless he is involved?
Wouldn't surprise me if he did in those conditions, HOWEVER the chances of a senior aide being charged are pretty slim as far as I can see.
I think the lastest arrest was nothing more than a time grab by a frustrated investigation doomed to failure.
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