Timeline: Cash-for-honours

Here is how the "cash for peerages" saga has emerged.

23 OCTOBER, 2007

Assistant Commissioner John Yates, who led the investigation into cash-for-honours allegations, faces a panel of MPs to answer questions on the "lessons learned" from the affair.

Police chief defends probe

9 OCTOBER, 2007

The Crown Prosecution Service says there will be no charges following its cash-for-honours probe involving the Conservative Party.

No Conservative charges

20 JULY, 2007

The BBC learns that no-one is to face charges in the cash-for-honours inquiry involving the Labour Party.

No Labour charges

5 JUNE, 2007

Two of Tony Blair's closest aides are re-bailed by police as part of the cash-for-honours inquiry.

No 10 aides re-bailed on honours

4 JUNE, 2007

Prosecutors confirm that they have asked police for further inquiries into the cash-for-honours allegations.

More inquiries in honours probe

23 MAY, 2007

Lord Levy says he will step down as Tony Blair's envoy to the Middle East, when the prime minister leaves office on 27 June.

Levy steps down as Middle East envoy

20 APRIL, 2007

The Metropolitan Police hand over their cash-for-honours file to the Crown Prosecution Service. It is 216 pages long and has 6,300 supporting documents. The CPS says it will now review it to see whether any individuals should be charged with any offences.

Honours probe file handed to CPS

6 MARCH, 2007

A judge removes an injunction against the BBC. It is then able to report that No 10 aide Ruth Turner had expressed, in document, her concern that Tony Blair's chief fundraiser, Lord Levy, had put to her a version of events which she believed to be untrue. His solicitor issued a statement denying any wrong-doing and saying media reporting of leaks presented a "prejudiced and distorted" view.

BBC injunction lifted

3 MARCH, 2007

Attorney General Lord Goldsmith, at the request of the police, obtains an injunction against the BBC to stop it broadcasting an item about the cash-for-honours investigation.

Injunction against BBC

20 FEBRUARY, 2007

Ruth Turner is interviewed by police for about two hours, while answering bail following her arrest in January, on suspicion of perverting the course of justice and of honours allegations.

Police question Blair aide again

6 FEBRUARY, 2007

The Crown Prosecution Service says there will be no charges against head teacher Des Smith, who was arrested last year, because of "insufficient evidence".

Honours probe teacher not charged

1 FEBRUARY

Downing Street reveals that Prime Minister Tony Blair was questioned by police for a second time on Friday 26 January, shortly before he left for the World Economic Forum in Davos. Mr Blair was interviewed as a witness at the request of the police, and was not arrested.

Blair interviewed again by police

30 JANUARY

Labour's chief fundraiser Lord Levy is re-arrested and questioned for several hours on suspicion of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. He is released on bail and his spokesman says he denies any allegation of wrongdoing.

Honours police arrest Levy

24 JANUARY

Downing Street's director of political operations John McTernan was questioned during the previous week for a second time, it emerges. Mr McTernan, seconded to the Scottish Labour Party to run its campaign for May's Holyrood elections, was re-interviewed under caution.

Aide questioned for second time

23 JANUARY

It emerges that Scotland's First Minister Jack McConnell was questioned by police - but not under caution - in December. It is understood Mr McConnell was asked about the peerage nomination of former Lord Advocate Colin Boyd.

McConnell quizzed by police

19 JANUARY

Downing Street's director of government relations Ruth Turner is arrested before dawn at her London home. She is questioned over honours allegations and suspicion of perverting the course of justice. She later issues a statement denying any wrongdoing, and Tony Blair gives her his full backing.

Honours police arrest Blair aide

14 DECEMBER, 2006

Tony Blair is interviewed by police investigating the cash for honours allegations. His spokesman says he was not interviewed under caution, which means he is being treated as a witness rather than a suspect. It is thought to be the first time a serving prime minister has been questioned by police conducting a criminal investigation.

Blair questioned in honours probe

16 NOVEMBER

Scotland Yard's Assistant Commissioner John Yates says police have gained "significant and valuable material" after interviewing 90 people and expect to submit a file to the Crown Prosecution Service in January. The CPS would have to give "careful consideration" to "complex and sensitive legal issues", he adds.

Police investigation 'making progress'

8 NOVEMBER

It emerges that all members of the Cabinet at around the time of the 2005 general election, apart from Tony Blair, have received letters from or been contacted in some other way by detectives.

Cabinet members were sent letters

23 OCTOBER

Former Conservative leader Michael Howard says he was interviewed at his home by police investigating the cash-for-honours allegations. He was not under caution and there was no suspicion of him having committed a crime, he adds.

Howard quizzed in honours probe

2 OCTOBER

It emerges that police have questioned four Conservative donors, including a businessman whose nomination for a peerage was blocked.

Peerage probe police quiz Tories

29 SEPTEMBER

Senior Downing Street adviser Ruth Turner is questioned by police as part of the ongoing probe.

Donor police quiz top Blair aide

21 SEPTEMBER

Biotech boss and Labour lender Sir Christopher Evans becomes the third person to be arrested in the "cash-for-peerages" probe.

Biotech boss 'shocked' by arrest

16 JULY

Prime Minister Tony Blair says nobody in the Labour Party has sold honours in return for financial backing to his knowledge.

Blair says no honours wrongdoing

14 JULY

It emerges that two ministers, Labour donor Lord Sainsbury and ex-party chairman Ian McCartney, have been questioned by police.

Ministers quizzed in donor inquiry

12 JULY

Lord Levy is arrested and bailed by police in connection to the "cash-for- peerages" probe. Lord Levy says he has done nothing wrong and says the arrest powers were used "totally unnecessarily".

Lord Levy arrested

10 JULY

The BBC learns that Lord Levy told curry tycoon Sir Gulam Noon he need not disclose his £250,000 loan to Labour on his nomination form for the House of Lords.

Labour fundraiser's advice revealed

22 JUNE

Lord Levy, Labour's chief fundraiser, is grilled by a committee of MPs looking at the party funding system.

Lord Levy faces MPs

16 MAY

The Lords' Appointments Committee, which vets nominations for peerages, says it has sometimes been kept in the dark about political loans.

Lords' watchdog 'kept in the dark'

28 APRIL

Scotland Yard starts looking at claims that Labour offered the late independent MP, Peter Law, a peerage if he refused to stand at the last election. Labour says the allegation is "categorically untrue".

Yard inquiry on MP peerage claim

21 APRIL

Police say they are widening their inquiry to cover loans to political parties going back to 2001.

Cash for peerages probe widened

18 APRIL

Mr Smith says he will "vigorously" contest all allegations made about him.

Head denies cash for honours claim

13 APRIL

Des Smith, a head teacher involved in the government's city academics project, is arrested and bailed by the police investigating the "cash-for-peerages" complaints.

Honours probe head teacher bailed

30 MARCH

Police say their inquiry is looking at other political parties, not just Labour.

Police probe becomes cross-party inquiry

29 MARCH

Scotland Yard's Deputy Assistant Commissioner John Yates says his inquiry could be widened into the "arena of corruption" but it is too early to say.

Police inquiry could be widened

27 MARCH

Police ask a committee of MPs to put their inquiry into the "cash for peerages" claims on hold

24 MARCH

It emerges that Labour's former general secretary, Matt Carter, wrote to wealthy businessmen telling them their loans would not have to be declared.

Labour chief pledged loan secrecy

21 MARCH

Scotland Yard says it is examining complaints that Labour has broken 1925 laws about selling honours.

Clarke targets Labour treasurer

17 MARCH

Labour confirms it was secretly lent £14m ahead of the 2005 election. The party, and the businessmen involved, deny any wrongdoing as loans to political parties made on commercial terms did not have to be disclosed.

Labour was secretly lent £14m

16 MARCH

Labour's elected treasurer, Jack Dromey, says he did not know wealthy businessmen had lent money to the party and promises to investigate. He says it is wrong for Downing Street to think it can run the Labour Party.

Labour loans to be investigated

12 MARCH

The BBC learns that Mr Patel lent Labour £1.5m.

Labour nominee made £1.5m loan

8 MARCH

Chai Patel, head of the priory rehabilitation clinics, protests to the vetting committee for Lords' appointments that his nomination to be a peer has been blocked.

Priory boss anger over peerage

19 JULY

The BBC is told that no-one is to face charges following the 16-month investigation.

No-one to face charges

20 JULY

Crown Prosecution Service confirms no one will face charges over cash-for-honours allegations.

Blair 'pleased' at honours ruling

Assistant commissioner John Yates defends the police's handling of the inquiry.

Police stand by honours inquiry