Help power Marketplace this winter when you support the show today. Donate Now!

Blair fundraiser arrested again

Stephen Beard Jan 31, 2007

TEXT OF INTERVIEW

SCOTT JAGOW: The main fundraiser for British Prime Minister Tony Blair has been arrested for a second time. Lord Michael Levy says he’s done nothing wrong, but police suspect him of covering up a campaign finance scandal. Our Correspondent Stephen Beard is London is on the line. Stephen, covering up what exactly?

STEPHEN BEARD: The allegation is that he and others may have arranged for wealthy party donors to receive a title like a knighthood or even a peerage in return for a party donation. This would be pretty serious considering that a peerage involves having a seat in the House of Lords, a vote in the legislature.

JAGOW: How close is this getting to Tony Blair?

BEARD: Well Tony Blair has himself been questioned by the police. That’s the first time that’s happened in British history, a serving Prime Minister being interviewed by the police about a case. No charges have been laid yet, but this is getting uncomfortably close to Tony Blair.

JAGOW: Here in the States we’re used to hearing about campaign fundraising scandals. How unusual is this in Britain?

BEARD: Pretty unusual. I mean 10 or 15 years ago you rarely heard of anything of this kind. Campaign finance wasn’t really an issue. British political campaigns were very low-key, there wasn’t a huge amount of money involved. This has changed over the years and especially under Tony Blair whose premiership has been more like a U.S. presidency. The campaigns have been much more expensive and therefore the parties have had to raise a lot more money.

JAGOW: OK Stephen, thank you.

BEARD: OK Scott.

JAGOW: Marketplace’s Stephen Beard in London.

There’s a lot happening in the world.  Through it all, Marketplace is here for you. 

You rely on Marketplace to break down the world’s events and tell you how it affects you in a fact-based, approachable way. We rely on your financial support to keep making that possible. 

Your donation today powers the independent journalism that you rely on. For just $5/month, you can help sustain Marketplace so we can keep reporting on the things that matter to you.