PM cautious on sleaze investigations

Tony Blair has said he will not order a sleaze investigation every time an allegation of wrongdoing is made against a minister.

The prime minister has appointed National Audit Office head Sir John Bourn to investigate potential breaches of the ministerial code.

But speaking to the Commons liaison committee, Blair said that too many false claims were made against members of the government for each one to be investigated.

He told MPs that "allegations are made against ministers the entire time".

"What actually happens is these things are done in a pretty high-octane way day after day after day," said Blair.

"And if I think there is reason to believe someone has broken the ministerial code I will take action... but I am not going to do that every time someone makes an allegation."

He added: "My experience is that every time you try to introduce a new system or a new way of becoming more open, more accountable, the credit you get for it in terms of restoring trust in public life is somewhat limited."

Blair also insisted that he sees the maintenance of standards in public life as "extremely important".

And he said it was "important you take action on the basis of evidence and not on the basis of whatever story is in the media from time to time".