Sleaze Watchdog Stalls Blair's 'Crony' Peer List--UK

From the new World Media Watch up now at http://www.zianet.com/insightanalytical
Tomorrow at Buzzflash.com


5//The Independent, UK Published: 28 December 2005

http://news.independent.co.uk/uk/politics/article335342.ece



SLEAZE WATCHDOG STALLS BLAIR’S ‘CRONY’ PEER LIST

By Colin Brown, Deputy Political Editor



Tony Blair has become embroiled in a new "cash for favours" row over his nomination of prominent Labour Party donors for peerages.

The parliamentary sleaze watchdog has blocked the Prime Minister's working list of 28 peers, which includes businessmen who have donated thousands of pounds to his party.

(SNIP)

Now the House of Lords Appointments Commission has put a hold on the peerages, pending further checks. "The appointments commission is holding it up because they are dissatisfied with some of the names on the Prime Minister's list. Some members of the commission are holding out as a matter of principle," one source close to the cross-party commission of peers said.

(SNIP)

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing by any of those on the list but Commission members asked for further evidence on the tax status of some of the nominees, who are normally required to pay tax in the UK.



The list also raises the issue of the use of peerages to reward party donors. Cash for peerages caused a furore in the early 20th century when the then Liberal Prime Minister, Lloyd George, accepted bribes for honours.



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Compared to all he's done, this is bordering on the tame :boring:

that's no surprise. Tony's a whore. Anything-for-a-buck-Blair.