In any event young Angus MacNeil MP wrote to Commissioner Ian Blair last week, and Scotland Yard has now confirmed to him that it will investigate the matter further. 1933 was the last time someone was convicted of selling peerages. The law is the law Mr Levy.

Sir Ian Blair
Commissioner
Metropolitian Police
New Scotland Yard
London
SW1H 0BG

Thursday 16th March 2006

Dear Sir Ian,

I am writing to you regarding the growing circumstantial evidence surrounding the alleged selling of peerages. I am sure you will be aware of the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925. Section 1 (1) states that:

“If any person accepts, obtains or agrees to accept or obtain from any person, for himself or for any other person, or for any purpose, any gift, money or valuable consideration as an inducement or reward for procuring or assisting or endeavouring to procure the grant of a dignity or title of honour to any person or otherwise in connection with such a grant, he shall be guilty of a misdemeanour.”

The body of evidence in the Sunday Times dossier is incredibly damning. With 80 pence in every £1 going donated to the Labour party by individuals comes from people who have been honoured. Every donor who has given the party more than £1 million has been given a knighthood or a peerage.

There is also the refusal of the House of Lords Appointments Commission to accept recent nominations from the Labour Party to consider. This would appear to be a case for investigation under this Act to see if any criminality has taken place.

Three quarters of those individuals who have given more than £50 000 to the Labour Party since 2001 have received an honour.

I urge you to open an investigation into this very serious matter.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Angus MacNeil MP
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