Blair wrongly interfered in arms probe, court hears

Tony Blair went too far when he applied “irresistible pressure” to end the Serious Fraud Office’s investigation into alleged bribery and corruption involving arms deals between BAE Systems and Saudi Arabia, the High Court was told today.

Mr Blair, British prime minister at the time, “stepped over the boundaries of what was permissible” and wrongly interfered in a legal matter following threats by the Saudis, said Dinah Rose QC.