For Blair, Round 2 Of Police Questions

Premier a 'Witness' In Honors Inquiry

LONDON, Feb. 1 -- Prime Minister Tony Blair has been interviewed for a second time by police investigating allegations that his Labor Party offered seats in the House of Lords and other government honors in exchange for cash, police and Blair's office said Thursday.

Police interviewed Blair for about 45 minutes last Friday but asked Blair's office "for operational reasons" to keep the meeting secret until Thursday, police and Blair's office said in statements. Police said Blair was "interviewed as a witness, not as a suspect and cooperated fully" in an inquiry in which the prime minister's top fundraiser and a top adviser have been arrested on suspicion of hampering the investigation into the widening scandal.

Known here as the "cash-for-honors" probe, it has further damaged a leader whose approval ratings have been badly hurt by his enthusiastic support of the U.S.-led wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Blair was first questioned by police in December at his 10 Downing Street office, the first time a sitting British prime minister had been questioned by police in a criminal inquiry.

"Blair's position is looking more and more difficult as each day goes by," said Iain McLean, professor of politics at Oxford University.

Blair, who took office in May 1997, announced last year that he will step down before his party's annual conference in September. But as the scandal widens, political opponents are increasingly calling for Blair to resign sooner.

David Cameron, leader of the opposition Conservative Party, directly challenged Blair in Parliament on Wednesday at the weekly Prime Minister's Questions session when he said that Blair's authority to lead was "draining away" and that he should resign immediately "in the national interest."

"When is Mr. Blair going to realize it is all over?" Cameron asked.

Since at least last April, police have been investigating allegations that Blair's government has enticed political donors with promises of appointments to the House of Lords, the upper house of Parliament. Blair and other Labor officials have denied those allegations, but four people have been arrested either on suspicion of offering honors for cash or for "perverting the course of justice" -- which has led political opponents to allege a coverup.

No one has been charged with a crime, and police have stressed that the investigation is a "cross-party" probe into campaign finance irregularities.

But only Labor supporters have been arrested. Blair's chief fundraiser, Michael Levy, has been detained twice. A top Downing Street aide, Ruth Turner, has also been arrested, as have Christopher Evans, an entrepreneur and major Labor Party donor, and Des Smith, a Labor government adviser. All were later released and have denied wrongdoing.

Chancellor Gordon Brown, Blair's presumed successor, this week urged people not to rush to judgment about allegations of wrongdoing or coverup. "I believe when people see the full facts, then they will be satisfied," Brown said.