Yates of the Yard
- 29 Jan 09, 03:28 PM
He's back but probably not for long.
Yates of the Yard - the veteran of the failed investigations into the goings on at the Palace (the Burrell trial) and Downing Street ("cash for honours") has been called in to take a look at what's been going on in the Lords.
I say "take a look" because they are not - repeat not - starting a police investigation. Deary me, no. They are assessing the relevant material before deciding whether to launch an investigation.
I am also told by what, forgive me, I'll have to call "informed sources" that an investigation is "never going to happen" unless the Sunday Times have damning evidence that they've yet to reveal. The paper does have more which will embarrass the four Labour peers - indeed, there's talk of a video of Lord Truscott being released soon - but I doubt very much they have damning evidence of a breach of the law which they have yet to reveal.
The Met's desire is, I'm told, "to get out of this" whilst, of course, having been seen to take a proper look at what evidence there is.
Yates of the Yard will, I expect, soon be telling their Lordships that he's happy for them to get on and investigate themselves.
Update Fri 0850: More detail and reply to comments here.
