Knacker Wants Search Warrants for Downing Street
This could be a tad embarrassing for Tony Blair if it happens. Following the arrest of Ruth Turner on suspicion of perverting the course of justice, the news that there might be a hidden secret e-mail system (denied by Downing Street) and the alleged "unhelpful" response from some Downing Street officials (again denied), the Telegraph is reporting that the police are about to apply to a magistrate for search warrants for Downing Street.
[...]
The alleged lack of co-operation, which Downing Street denies, has led to the "nuclear" option of the police going before a magistrate to obtain search warrants. Sources close to the inquiry said that a number of emails had not been voluntarily disclosed, including from the private accounts of some officials.
Well, if Blairites called the arrests of Lord Levy and Ruth Turner "theatrical", I wonder what they'll call this. If Downing Street is "co-operating fully" with the investigation as it insists, then why would the police feel the need for this "nuclear" option? They must be fairly certain that some evidence has been withheld and can be found, unless this is just a threat in order to get better co-operation. Frank Dobson has once again compared Blair's Government to the last days of John Major's time in Office. Sorry Frank, sleazy though it undoubtedly was, I don't recall anything on this scale happening. Blair's loss of authority however, is now all too clear.
Downing Street is quoted as
Downing Street is quoted as saying that 'warrants will just not be necessary'.
That can be interpreted in any number of ways...
Nonetheless, the cops seem to be doing pretty well in the tactical PR/leak campaign. Downing Street has been kept on the back foot despite various interventions from Puttnam and the like.