What cash for honours?

[Lazy Lob]

Shock horror. What a surprise!


No charges on 'cash for honours'
The BBC understands that no-one is to face charges after the 16-month cash for honours investigation.

Four people were arrested - including two of Tony Blair's aides - during inquiries into whether honours were sold and whether a cover-up followed.

In total, 136 people were interviewed - including former Prime Minister Tony Blair and ex-Conservative leader Michael Howard.

All denied wrongdoing, but Mr Blair's friends say his authority was weakened.

Serious allegations

Scotland Yard is preparing to make a public defence of its officers who are bound to come under fierce criticism for dragging out their inquiries for so long yet failing to produce a result.

Assistant Commissioner John Yates of the Metropolitan Police - who headed up the investigation - has said from the outset his officers were simply doing their jobs by investigating serious allegations.

The Crown Prosecution Service is set to announce its decision in the morning but has so far refused to formally comment.

Mr Blair's chief fundraiser Lord Levy, his Director of Government Relations Ruth Turner and Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans were all arrested as part of the inquiry.

Police spent more than a year investigating whether people were nominated for peerages in return for donations to political parties.

They initially handed their file to the Crown Prosecution Service in April, but were asked to make further inquiries.

Mr Blair had been questioned three times by police as a potential witness before he left Downing Street.

He was the first prime minister to be interviewed by police in the course of a criminal inquiry.

Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6907594.stm

Published: 2007/07/19 21:17:24 GMT

© BBC MMVII

[MichaelF]

Wonder what a Baronetcy will run you?

[LRPV]

Baron LRPV.....or perhaps Duke? :)

[MichaelF]

Baron LRPV.....or perhaps Duke? :)

Dukes all have the last name "Windsor", or have held the title since the 1700s.

The only hereditary titles created by the Queen since ~1960 are:

Harold Macmillan became Earl of Stockton.
George Thomas became Viscount Tonypandy (WTF?).
William Whitelaw became Viscount Whitelaw.

And Dennis Thatcher got a Baronetcy. After he died, it passed to Mark "Wild Geese" Thatcher.

Charles, Andrew and Edward all got hereditary titles (Andrew getting the Dukedom of York and Eddie getting an Earldom).

So, our choices are:

Marry a Toff.
Join the Army and hope for a big war.
Become Prime Minister (if Bliar can do it, how hard can it be?).
Hang out with Wills and hope he remembers his friends.
Shoot Mohammed Al-Fayed (that's got to be worth an Earldom, at least).

[LRPV]

Dukes all have the last name "Windsor", or have held the title since the 1700s.

The only hereditary titles created by the Queen since ~1960 are:

Harold Macmillan became Earl of Stockton.
George Thomas became Viscount Tonypandy (WTF?).
William Whitelaw became Viscount Whitelaw.

And Dennis Thatcher got a Baronetcy. After he died, it passed to Mark "Wild Geese" Thatcher.

Charles, Andrew and Edward all got hereditary titles (Andrew getting the Dukedom of York and Eddie getting an Earldom).

So, our choices are:

Marry a Toff.
Join the Army and hope for a big war.
Become Prime Minister (if Bliar can do it, how hard can it be?).
Hang out with Wills and hope he remembers his friends.
Shoot Mohammed Al-Fayed (that's got to be worth an Earldom, at least).

Ok, so which one comes with a castle? I can live with Earl, Baron or Viscount, but the current digs will need an upgrade. What about that castle in Edinburgh, it only seems to get used once a year by the military. p-)

[MichaelF]

Ok, so which one comes with a castle? I can live with Earl, Baron or Viscount, but the current digs will need an upgrade. What about that castle in Edinburgh, it only seems to get used once a year by the military. p-)

Hint: several people (including Baroness Thatcher) have turned down hereditary titles (Baroness Thatcher's title is a Life Peerage) due to not having the £ to keep up appearances.

Most of the folks who have "3rd Baron Devilminster" behind their name have equity and investments in the low seven figures (IOW, they rake in ~£100K/annum just off of capital gains), and many of them have the family Estate looked after by the National Trust (in exchange for letting the tourists paw your linens).

So:

1.) Get wealthy.
2.) Become a staunch Monarchist, and get into HM's good books.
3.) Have the PM owe you a favor (or make him owe you a favor).
4.) Take up Polo.

[LRPV]

Bugger! I can't ride horses so I'll just have to remain a commoner.p-)