Inquiry call over Robinson 'threats'

The Tories demanded an inquiry last night into allegations that Downing Street threatened Geoffrey Robinson in an attempt to stop him making damaging revelations about the funding of Tony Blair's private office.

The Tories demanded an inquiry last night into allegations that Downing Street threatened Geoffrey Robinson in an attempt to stop him making damaging revelations about the funding of Tony Blair's private office.

Alastair Campbell, the Downing Street press secretary, denied that he, or any other members of the Prime Minister's staff, knew who gave money to the blind trust that helped fund Mr Blair's office when he was Opposition Leader before the 1997 general election.

Mr Blair's official spokesman also rejected claims that Blair allies had suggested to Mr Robinson that he might be damaged by two continuing Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) investigations involving his business affairs.

Mr Robinson resigned as Paymaster General last December and Peter Mandelson quit the Cabinet after it was revealed that Mr Robinson gave him a £373,000 loan.

Downing Street fears Mr Robinson will make embarrassing disclosures in his autobiography in the new year because he is furious that Mr Mandelson is back in Cabinet.

One Labour source said last night that the book would be "a work of fiction" if it claimed Mr Robinson was approached for money by a Blair aide, and disputed claims that he donated £250,000 to the fund.

Angela Browning, the Tories' spokesman on trade and industry, wrote to Sir Michael Scholar, the Permanent Secretary at the DTI, asking him to investigate yesterday's story in The Independent, which revealed Mr Robinson's allegations against Number 10. "Particularly worrying is that Downing Street is using two investigations currently being undertaken by your department as a threat to Mr Robinson," Mrs Browning said.

"I feel these allegations should be investigated further, not least because of the implication that your department could in some way be complicit in the threat to Mr Robinson."

Mr Blair's spokesman insisted there had been no attempt to influence the DTI inquiry into Mr Robinson's affairs or the separate investigation into Robert Maxwell, with whom he had business links. "These inquiries are independent. It would be improper and impossible to do that," he said.

"I have no idea who paid money into the blind trust," he said and added: "It is no secret that Geoffrey Robinson, who is both wealthy and generous, has made donations to the Labour Party."

Downing Street denied seeking to influence the book.