No 10 linked to arms firm inquiry

Police investigating allegations of bribery by one of Britain's biggest defence firms asked to look at emails sent to and from Jonathan Powell, Tony Blair's chief of staff.

The police were acting on suspicion that Lord Powell, his brother, who is an adviser to BAE Systems, lobbied Downing Street aides to have a fraud investigation stopped. Police asked detectives working on the cash-for-honours inquiry for access to the No 10 emails to check if the brothers had communicated about the affair, but they were denied for legal reasons.

Charles Powell said that he discussed the investigation with "senior government officials" and that it was "perfectly possible" this included his brother, according to The Sunday Times. He said he had "occasionally" spoken to BAE and the Saudi royal family about the fraud investigation.

A Downing St spokesman said: "Jonathan Powell was not involved in the decision-making process whatsoever, which was entirely carried out by civil servants. So the fact that they are brothers is irrelevant."