Arrest was media circus, says Levy

TONY BLAIR’S chief fundraiser, Michael Levy, last night accused police of whipping up a “media circus” around his arrest, as he emerged from a second day of questioning about cash-for-honours allegations.

In a statement, Lord Levy denounced the arrest as “unnecessary, disproportionate and... theatrical” and insisted he was innocent of any wrongdoing.

His comments came as it emerged that officers of the Metropolitan Police’s Specialist Crimes Directorate have interviewed 48 people for their inquiry, 13 of them under caution.

The officer leading the investigation told MPs that three individuals — understood to be Labour lenders — have refused police requests to be questioned.

The investigation was sparked by allegations that millionaire Labour backers were nominated for peerages in return for making massive loans to the party in the run-up to last year’s general election — something the party vehemently denies.

Opposition parties said yesterday’s arrest of Lord Levy — a close friend and tennis partner of Mr Blair and the Prime Minister’s personal envoy to the Middle East — has brought the scandal to the very door of 10 Downing Street.

In a briefing to a House of Commons committee, deputy assistant commissioner John Yates said his inquiries covered both main parties and officers have spoken to more Conservatives than Labour people.