I asked barrister and parliamentary hopeful James Tumbridge to give me his 
professional insights on the latest Lord Levy revelations in today’s Guardian. It’s really dramatic, eye-popping stuff.
He wonders if these awesome revelations could backfire in a legal quagmire and prevent justice running its normal course, exactly what Labour wants. This is what he said:
“Injunctions to prevent the broadcasting of material are not uncommon in the UK but they are not always, as in the case of the alleged ‘cash for honours’ scandal, at issue in order to preserve a potential prosecution case. One of the more famous injunctions was obtained to prevent the screening of a program which used sections of the film a Clockwork Orange, at a time when its owner still wished it to be kept off British screens. Such injunctions are not remotely worrying, in the sense that they are granted at the last minute. They can seldom be otherwise because journalists do not tend to give months of notice that they are about to present a story.
“What is alarming is the number of stories suggesting the Attorney General acted inappropriately. This is, in fact, an occasion where he was clearly acting independently of the interests of the PMO who may want the case weakened by a disclosure. Where in fact the injunction was in the interests of the public and police.
“Given the decision by the High Court not to injunct The Guardian, perhaps the need of secrecy is not as clear cut as we might like. Whatever the outcome, it is certainly in the best interests of the public that a prosecution case, which is bound to be hard to prove, is not in any way risked in order that a journalist can get a scoop. It is an example of how our justice system can protect us and shows the role of the Attorney General is still working as it should.”
At the end of the day, if charges are made, a jury will have to be sworn in which has not be influenced by media reports. I share James’ concerns too, but can also see how irresistible this story is for the media, shaming and dishonouring an unpopular government. The police can contain this only by pressing charges. If they decide not to, Lord Levy will have to pursue his own legal actions against the press to clear his name. Injunctions have not worked.
Yup. NuLabour are blatantly trying to disrupt and undermine the police investigation by persistent leaking. There can be no doubt about it.
With Istanbultory here.
The Guardian’s timing was impeccable. So was Lord Levy’s, through his agent today – saying how intolerable all this is for him and his family.
This whole thing whiffs.
Hi Elle, not sure what the issue is here.
Was the House of Lords not filled with those ‘honoured’ for services to The Monarch – whether it was killing the ‘opposition’ or any rivals, or lending money & men for wars fought by The Crown.
And in modern Britain by those who have either been of service to the government or allegedly to the public.
It is not so much that anyone objects to a boys club (ladies included) – it is that they should have had a right to influence government by privilege of birth that was outdated.
As to Lord Levy is he not a prime example of conservative values, and the epitomy of the power of ‘money’ – is Tony Blair not, the best leader the conservative’s never had – they just happened to be in the Labour Party. lol!
Shows how politics has turned into football, doesn’t matter which side one plays for, its the winning that counts – that is why it is getting easier for either side, to walk the walk and talk the talk, yet promise whatever it takes to get elected – and then do whatever you will.
PS – Just saw Cameron in Brussels.
No to EU Constitution, Yes to a flexible EU strong on the environment and global warming, on unemployment, and poverty? …
This is another instance where I feel we should have retained the Grand Jury system. Allowing decisions to prosecute to be political, rather than decided by legal process will always be contentious in a case such as this. I think a Grand Jury would decide to proceed, wheareas whatever decision the CPS reach here is open to criticism.
It loioks like Lord ‘Cashpoint’ Levy is earmarked by Blair to be the scapegoat for all this.
Quasar9’s comment suggests he neither understands the crime nor cares, and perhaps for his own political view of what is ‘conservative.’ The simple point is that with the title of Lord goes the right to have a permanent vote on our legislation, and the holders of this right are not accountable to public opinion and do not have to seek election. In practical terms it is the Prime Minister who decides who can join the Lords, and it was felt at the beginning of the 20th Century that it is wrong to let a Prime minister sell such rights, and the allegation is the breach of that law. This is not an irrelevant story, it is fundamental to our democracy to know whether we chose Lords because of their contribution to soceity or because they pay the Prime Minister.
I don’t know what to make of Blair – I don’t see him as being Conservative and I most certainly do not see him as old Labour.
Would Lord levy take the rap on his own ?
How lonely must John Yates feel ? I don’t expect he has many friends among the Met hierarchy, though I bet the rank & file are with him. A brave man indeed.
Does any of this matter ? What we were promised by Mr Blair was clean politics, instead we have sleaze and wrecked institutions.
The legal defence teams will still have many ways of muddying the waters.
BTW Does anyone know how effective the House of Lords Appointment Committee is ?
Can help feeling that Levy is the fall guy here. Hope he gets out of it and lands the narcissist Blair in the ****
Anon-y-mous it is ‘conservatism’ which most often seeks to preserve the status quo, that usually includes upholding the privileges of the few, the privilege of birthright – hierarchies – and even ‘caste’ systems
Bush & son of Bush is pure conservatism
Even despots like Saddam and the Ba’ath Party, like other latin american dictators were ‘conservatives’ regardless of whether they were left or right leaning conservatives. The Nazi Party was conservative – after all national sozialism – would that mean no to Europe & the EU
But House of Lords, House of Representatives or the British Medical Association will inevitably be populated by those who have either earned or ‘bought’ their position.
After all even elections are about money.
“Vote for me and I’ll reduce your taxes” or
“Vote for me and I’ll increase your incomes”
Dear Quasar 9,
There is a distinction between ‘conservative’ with a small ‘c’ and ‘Conservative’ with a large ‘C’ which is the name of a party. Safer to use ‘Tory’ to avoid confusion.
As for Blair being a Conservative, I fail to see how as his party is full of former Marxists (he was once a member of CND). I think Blair is simply a political opportunist out for self aggrandisement.
You’re absolutely right about elections being based on money – I despair of this and perhaps you’ve hit the nail on the head as to why our public services are in such a mess.
This just goes on and on and on..and now with this American Girl “Courtney Coventry”,which is all over the blogs,where is it going to end.?? Is Courtney the Christine Keller of 2007 ??
This shocking scandle has got to stop !
How can our Goverment and Lords act in such a way. Selling Titles for cash ! Then all these lies. I am ashamed to be British !
“Lord” levy got his Title by selling off Knighthoods and every title he can think of for donations to this Government. I have no idea if Blair was involved,maybe we shall never know,but we think he was up to his neck in it !
This girl that I have been reading about Courtney Coventry,has real guts in telling us all about what has been going on,I wish more people would do so. On this part of the story,it is clear that Courtney Coventry came over from America with no other reason,than to expose this scandle.Why a national Newspaper then tried to make her out to be a porn star and another a Bogus Countess goes to show the very sad state that we are in today. But,beneath it all the British public are not fools and our thanks should go out to this American COUNTESS Courtney !