Rowen to play key role in ongoing cash for honours enquiry

Date published: 25/07/2007

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen will be one of a team of MPs tasked with continuing the investigation into Cash for Honours - despite the Crown Prosecution Service faling to charge anyone. 

Mr Rowen is a member of the Public Administration Committee, who had to halt their investigation to avoid prejudicing any legal proceedings.  These restrictions have now been lifted and the committee are set to demand answers from senior figures in the Labour Party including former Prime Minister Tony Blair, Lord Levy, Ruth Turner and even current Premier Gordon Brown.

Mr Rowen said: "My view is that there is a lot more to this than meets the eye. While there may be insufficient evidence for a criminal investigation, there are a lot of questions that have not been answered.  Just like the Conservative Party before, the Labour Government are up to their necks in sleaze.  We are determined to get to the bottom of some key questions and are using this process to help clean up the reputation of politics.  This is to be held in public so that people can have faith that justice is being done."

The committee who will now meet after the summer recess have also confirmed that Assistant Commissioner John Yates will also be interviewed.  The Public Affairs Committee's enquiry centres around propriety and the honours system.