Attorney general faces Commons probe
Lord Goldsmith's comments appear to clash with those of Lord Falconer
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Friday, 19, Jan 2007 07:21
Attorney general Lord Goldsmith faces investigation by MPs over his role in the cash-for-honours probe.
Members of the constitutional affairs select committee are concerned by the potential conflict of interest between Lord Goldsmith's close personal relationship with prime minister Tony Blair and his decision to stand aside from the case.
Lord Goldsmith is obliged to advise the crown prosecution service (CPS) on whether he believes charges should be pressed in the case.
Committee chairman Alan Beith highlighted discrepancies between Lord Goldsmith's refusal to distance himself and assurances by the lord chancellor, Lord Falconer, that the attorney general would "not interfere".
While Lord Falconer stated last November that Lord Goldsmith would deal with the case "in the normal way without interference", the attorney general has insisted that "no other minister, however distinguished or senior, has the ability to bind the attorney general in how he exercises his role".
Commenting on the discrepancy, Mr Beith said: "The fact that the lord chancellor and attorney general could, in good faith, give us two rather different accounts of the attorney general's role underlines the case for examining the role of the attorney general, and we have now launched an inquiry to that effect."
It emerged today that a fourth person, senior Downing Street adviser Ruth Turner, was arrested in connection with the probe. She was later released on bail without charge.
Allegations that political donations were related to peerage appointments were first raised by the Scottish National Party in March last year.