UK: Arrest in cash for honours probe

[muriel_volestrangler]

Police have arrested a 60-year-old man in connection with their investigation into cash for honours allegations, Scotland Yard said.

The man was arrested in London borough Redbridge for an offence under the Honours (Prevention of Abuses) Act 1925, it said in statement.

He is currently in custody in a London police station, it added.

The police have said the man is not an MP or a peer but would not say if he was a member of political party.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4906504.stm

Wow, I didn't expect arrests. 60 years old - anyone know the ages of people involved?

[muriel_volestrangler]

1. Update: Des Smith arrested

In the BBC story now:

Former government adviser Des Smith has been arrested as part of a police probe into cash-for-honors allegations.

Mr Smith, a secondary school head, was a council member of the Specialist Schools and Academies Trust, which helps the government recruit sponsors.

From January:

Revealed: cash for honours scandal

PRIVATE donors to Tony Blair’s controversial city academies can obtain honours and peerages by sponsoring the schools, a senior adviser to the programme has revealed.

Des Smith, a council member of the trust that helps recruit sponsors for academies, disclosed that if a donor gave sufficient money, he could be nominated for an OBE, CBE or even a knighthood.

He described what appeared to be a tariff system, in which a benefactor who gave to “one or two” academies might receive such an honour while a donor who gave to five would be “a certainty” for a peerage.

Smith’s comments came during an undercover investigation by The Sunday Times. Suspicions of a link between honours and donations to academies — Blair’s scheme for new privately backed schools — have existed since the ambitious programme of establishing up to 200 academies began in 2001. Six of the biggest academy sponsors have already been honoured after pledging their money.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,2087-1986407,00.html

[skyblue]

2. Pretentious.

I'm sure there used to be more meaning in the title, where people must have done something very good for the UK. Therfore, it should be an exclusive honor to be given such a title.

There must be more benefits to be called Lord Bob than just Bob other than by being Lord Bob perhaps your friends must bow down to you and kiss your ---- hand, then. What are the advantages (land, money, political influence, clothing acoutrements, sitting at table with other Lords, box seats at Polo Tourney?)to being Lord Bob other than being called Lord Bob in reference to this donation for peerage? Why would people pay money to be called Lord Bob with the opportunity of being caught and prosecuted?

Hopefully my tone here is not too obnoxious....

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

3. You get to play with this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/British_House_of_Lords

[skyblue]

9. Suspensive Veto & sort of Court of Last Resort...

If I'm reading correctly hopefully this is about right: Suspensive Veto = Can delay but not reject legislation of the H of C except Money Bills, and some members (specifically if they have judical experience) are part of a Court of Last resort and the Judicial functions of the H of L should be transferred to a new Supreme Court of the UK created by an Act in 2005. Then the web site goes into detail that I don't have the time for right now....

[muriel_volestrangler]

10. That's roughly it; the "supreme court" lords are genuine judges

with proper experience, and the 'normal' lords never get involved in legal decisions. But they do get to vote on laws, with the ability to delay or amend (though the Commons can reject the amendments later).

[SoftUnderbelly]

4. they mean nothing at all

a lot of people who want honours are middle class toss bags who have made loads of money yet still dont feel 'respected' enough in polite society - and there is a lot of snobbery from the 'real' aristos when it comes to these 'nouveau riche'. money cant buy your class, until now...

but yeah, the honours system is such a devaulued joke that no one can take it seriously. although apparently being called 'lord bob' may help you get a better table in a restaurant (also, remember the conman from fawlty towers claiming to be a lord got instant respect from basil - thats why people want one!)

[skyblue]

5. No Funny Hats?

No Funny hats or Pins or Wigs?

[SoftUnderbelly]

6. of course!

how silly of me to forget that it also allows for middle aged men to cross dress in public without fear of ridicule, all in the name of tradition you understand!

[CJCRANE]

7. Just change

your first name to "Lord" and it'll have the same effect.

So when you make the restaurant/hotel booking you can say "in the name of Lord Smith {or whatever your surname happens to be}".

[SoftUnderbelly]

8. true

there are so many lords about now, no one would be able to tell if you are a fake one or not (not that there is such a thing as a legitimate lord!)

although im not sure, i imagine there would be a law against falsly claiming to be a lord? however, if you legally changed your name to 'lord bob' then there aint much they can do about it. not sure if its worth all the hassle to get a bit of cap doffing or a better restaurant table.

[skyblue]

11. I could go for a cap doffing.

People hardly ever say 'Please' and 'Thank you' anymore just something like "that would be fine" a good Cap Doffing would do me just fine.

[SoftUnderbelly]

12. im sure it can be arranged

but i wont go down on one knee for anyone!

[skyblue]

13. My hat.

:tinfoilhat: No smilies in lookup table with doff of hat here.

[NorthernSun]

14. The latest

"Ex-Blair adviser arrested in sleaze probe"

LONDON - A sleaze row surrounding the "sale" of seats in the House of Lords in return for financial support to political parties threatened to damage British Prime Minister Tony Blair today after police arrested a former government adviser

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/story.cfm?c_id=2&ObjectID=10377421

[Monkey see Monkey Do]

15. The BBC earlier were rumoring that he's been given immunity

in return for ratting on higher ups, but they didn't seem entirely convinced by this.