This is
a truly remarkable story. Tessa Jowell was one of the most prominent cabinet spokespeople on behalf of Blair's Iraq policy. One wonders how high up at 10 Downing Street this goes, since Blair himself denied any cabinet ties to US gambling interests.
Documents obtained by The Observer reveal how the Department for Culture, Media and Sport pressed the Treasury to change rules on money laundering to help US gambling corporations. They also show that ministers and department officials held meetings with senior casino officials behind closed doors in Las Vegas, South Africa and France as well as the UK.
More below.
I wonder what our British kossacks make of this. Could it be another case of an arrogant, over-reaching government coming a cropper due to petty venality? It's early days, but one can hope. Blair may never suffer any consequences for his crimes in Iraq. I'd gladly see the back of him by any means possible.
Theresa May, Shadow Secretary of State for Culture, said she would be writing to Jowell immediately asking for an explanation: 'While civil servants where actively working to get money laundering rules that would benefit American casino operators lifted, Tessa Jowell and the Prime Minister were telling MPs that nothing of the sort was taking place. Huge question marks over the relationship between foreign casino operators and this government remain, and this fresh disclosure does nothing to allay those concerns.
Is that Jack Abramoff lurking in the shadows?