Downing St not above law warn police

POLICE chiefs last night publicly warned the Labour Party that "no one is above the law" as the cash-for-honours inquiry erupted into open warfare between Downing Street and the Met.

After senior Labour figures lined up to criticise the "theatrical" arrest of Tony Blair's aide Ruth Turner, the chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority launched an unprecedented counterattack, suggesting the party was trying to "manipulate" and "pressurise" officers.

Len Duvall - in remarks believed to reflect growing fury within Scotland Yard - urged those who had questioned the conduct of police to "reflect on what they have said".

The long-running inquiry took a dramatic twist early on Friday when Turner was arrested at her London home at 6.30am, taken to a police station and questioned on suspicion of perverting the course of justice. This sparked speculation that police were looking at the possibility of an attempted cover-up, as well as allegations over the 'sale' of honours.

The Labour establishment reacted with fury to the latest arrest. Culture Secretary Tessa Jowell said she was "slightly bewildered" as to why Turner was arrested early in the morning by four policemen. Former home secretary David Blunkett demanded "thoroughness, not theatre". Lord Puttnam, Turner's friend and former boss, also accused detectives of "theatrics" and called on the police to "put up or shut up".

The remarks last night prompted the Metropolitan Police Authority's extraordinary statement. Duvall, himself a Labour politician, said: "It seems to me that it is inadvisable for others to comment, openly or behind the scenes, on the merits of individual lines of inquiry until such time as the full picture can be revealed.

"What is clear is that allegations of perverting the course of justice raise very serious concerns. It is also clear that no one in this country is above the law.

"As chairman of the Metropolitan Police Authority I must be seen never to seek to manipulate or pressurise senior officers in the Met on any operational inquiry. Others would do well to follow my example."

Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said the politicians' public comments were "particularly disturbing". "There are many junior officers who will feel their careers are being threatened subliminally, and that's wrong," he added.

Liberal Democrat spokesman Lord Thomas of Gresford said: "There is nothing theatrical about the arrest of Ruth Turner. Once the police had formed a reasonable suspicion of her perverting the course of justice, it was their duty to act swiftly and professionally to preserve any evidence."

The attacks on the methods used by the Met may reflect growing panic in Downing Street over the direction the inquiry appears to be taking.

Senior Labour figures had been growing increasingly confident that the police investigation into the alleged offer of honours to businessmen in return for donations to the party was running out of steam.

But Turner's arrest could herald a significant new development.

Whitehall insiders claim Scotland Yard detectives will shortly return to Downing Street to search computers and files that could prove Blair's office tried to "cover up" suggestions that honours had been offered to businessmen in return for donations to the Labour Party.

Since starting the investigation, following a complaint from SNP MP Angus MacNeil early last year, police have interviewed more than 50 people from all three main political parties.

Turner is the fourth person - and the first salaried government official - to be arrested in the inquiry, after Lord Levy, major Labour donor Sir Christopher Evans and headteacher Des Smith.

Labour officials have privately complained about apparent leaks from the inquiry team.