Cops Mum On Why They Junked Quiz On House Of Lords Scam

The Metropolitan Police in London has refused to release details of its decision not to investigate allegations of political corruption, Jenna Corderoy reported for openDemocracy.

Photo Insert: Met commissioner Cressida Dick was urged to investigate partygate but the force initially refused, only stating it would launch an inquiry after many weeks went by.

A “cash for peerages” investigation by openDemocracy and The Sunday Times in November 2021 revealed a pattern of high-value Tory donors securing seats in the House of Lords.

Opposition MPs urged Met commissioner Cressida Dick to investigate, but the force refused, saying there was “insufficient information.” Labor leader Keir Starmer has accused Boris Johnson of using the police as a “shield” to protect his position. The force is also facing legal action for its failure to launch an inquiry into the peerages scandal.

The investigation found Conservative Party treasurers who donate at least £3 million are a cinch to be given seats in the House of Lords. In the past seven years, all except for the most recently retired party treasurer have been offered a peerage after donating this amount.

Now, the Met is also refusing to release any information about how it came to that conclusion – including copies of internal emails and whom it consulted. Responding to Freedom of Information (FOI) requests from openDemocracy, the force claimed that transparency about its failure to look into the scandal could cause it operational harm.

“Such a disclosure would not be in the public interest,” it said. “It would be harmful to our policing functions.” It comes amid renewed pressure over the Met’s investigation into Downing Street parties.

After weeks of refusing to investigate partygate, the force announced on Wednesday – as Sue Gray’s report on the alleged parties was due to be published – that it would launch an inquiry after all.

Then, on Jan. 27, the force said it had asked the Cabinet Office to remove any detail about potentially illegal events from Gray’s report – saying anything more than “minimal reference” could prejudice its inquiries.

Experts have questioned whether there is any legal basis for this. One MP, Liberal Democrat Alistair Carmichael, warned it would be “profoundly damaging” if there was any hint of an “establishment stitch-up.”

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