Reports point to end of UK cash-for-honours inquiry

There was widespread speculation this evening that the long-running cash-for-honours inquiry in Britain will end tomorrow without charges being brought.

Simultaneous reports on Sky News and BBC1's '10 O'Clock News' quoted unnamed sources as saying that the Crown Prosecution Service would announce in the morning that no-one will be charged with any offences in connection with the allegations of the sale of honours.

But a spokeswoman for the CPS, which is responsible for deciding on charges, refused to comment on the report, saying only: "The decision-making process is ongoing.

"We have no guidance on timing and if the media want to call us tomorrow, that is entirely up to them."

Neither Scotland Yard nor 10 Downing Street would make any comment on the claim that an announcement was due tomorrow.

The Metropolitan Police inquiry was launched in March last year after allegations from Scottish National Party MP Angus MacNeil that four wealthy individuals had been nominated for peerages after lending Labour large sums of money.

The individuals were among 12 rich backers who together bankrolled Labour's 2005 General Election campaign with loans worth almost £14m (€20.78m).

During the course of the investigation, former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was questioned three times by police - always as a witness, not a suspect.

Four people were arrested, including Mr Blair's personal fundraiser Lord Levy, Downing Street aide Ruth Turner and biotech tycoon Sir Christopher Evans, who lent Labour £1m (€1.48m), all of whom are currently on police bail.

The CPS have already announced that there will be no charge against the other person arrested, former teacher Des Smith, who advised the Government on its academy school programme.