Surprise, Surprise.

They should have got Cilla Black to make the announcement.

Ajer, Basingstoke, UK

First of all it doesn't mean it never happened the Police had insufficient evidence

Second Blair was not forced to leave office he was asked to set a date which he himself chose

Third Reasonable doubt means a Jury would likely convict considering the Peerages awarded cash given is overwhelming let alone the lords is full of such donaters making the whole thing a mockery

Fourth The evidence that is present from the police investigation is enough to firmly support reasonable doubt.

They are so obviously guilty that anyone with an ounce of common sense will know this is a farcical joke

Steve, Hertford, Herts

It's not actually illegal to give an honour to someone who's donated money to you. It's only illegal to specifically promise an honour in return for a donation.

Was there a link between donations and honours? Probably. There probably always was, under all governments. But this investigation was never likely to lead to anything unless someone had been stupid enough to specifically link an honour to a cash donation in writing.

The CPS can only take forward a prosecution if there's enough evidence to reasonably expect a conviction. Otherwise, it's just throwing more public money down the drain. A jury has to deal in facts and hard evidence, not innuendo and political spite.

Steve, Liverpool, UK

Oh what a surprise! A complete waste of our money. Did anyone think that we would be charging the Prime Minister or his cohorts? Tell me, do we or do we not have peers who have paid for their titles? Of course we do. The police are a bunch of charlatans themselves and gutless with it.

Anyone else would be looking a ten year stretch for these crimes but not this lot.

Archie, Cardiff, UK

We all get our information through the media - and there's the problem.

If people beleive that Blair is guilty who's fault is it?

We have to raise standards in the media - not just the BBC but the press as well.

Pete Mallinson, Bristol,

Whenever I criticise the press for spinning the news, my comments never get printed on here. I wonder why that is. Here's my second attempt! Again I'm criticising the commentators here for jumping on the same old anti-Blair bandwagon as instructed by what they read in the papers. Never mind the truth, disregard any investigation, overlook reality in favour of one's own blinkered vision - is carry on whinging the fashionable response to every political situation. The only lack of honour can be seen in the government's eternal critics.

Mike, Kingston upon Thames, UK

Most of your correspondents have got it right aout the whitewash but they seem to be missing two points. First, both the outcome and the follow-up comments from Brown remove any doubt that the new PM is prepared to back his predecessor's misdemeanours to the hilt. Second, it is not John Yates but the CPS which decided not to proceed with a prosecution. He now faces a long and undeserved walk to the wilderness; and there are unlikely to be many more volunteers to tackle wrongdoing by this or any future Government.

Barry, Oxford,

Why do the Police never show such commitment in genuine crimes that hurt ordinary people?

Will the SNP now be charged with wasting Police time - or can anyone get an investigiation funded by English Taxpayers these days no matter how ridiculous?

After Blue Peter and Pudsey Bear will John Humphreys and the Today programme apologise for spending the last 16 months implying on a daily basis everyone was guilty irrespective of facts?

If the Upper House was elected this wouldn't have even been an issue.

The findings will be immaterial to those who regard Blair as the source of all evil - so I imagine we will be treated to weeks more tax-payer funded speculation on the BBC - if we're really unlucky we'll get a lot of "docu-dramas" "proving" everyone's guilt - despite the facts.

Phil, Lancaster, UK

The Police have my every sympathy for doing a thorough and professional job, only to be let down by the CPS.

And what did we find out by the sorry episode:

The CPS are not backing up the Police? Hardly new!

Our legal system is starting to resemble the American with the 'untouchables' in the political classes?

A very sad day for the democratic and legal processes in this country!

Stuart Williams , Bournemouth,

This is as believable as Saddam's WMD's and Tony's 45 minute claims.

John, Essex, UK

Doesn't it make one feel that this cash for honours business make one feel that one has been burgled by those that should know better; perhaps they do know what side their own bread is buttered with plenty of jam too....or caviare even.

Derek Clifton, Andover, Hampshire, England

How on earth anyone can even consider voting labour at the next election, is beyond me.

They have proven time and time again, that they are corrupt, they are in it for themselves, and they will bend, and break the law, to get what they want.

How are these people still in power!?!?!

Have we all lost our backbones, to stand up to corrupt officials now? Are we all so meek as to just sit by and let them treat us, and this once fine country, like this?

I'm ashamed to be british.

Arthur, Newcastle,

The real Lord Levy scandal was not that the allegation about Cash for Honurs but that such a committed Zionist was our Prime Minister's Middle East envoy.

Peter Berman, Wiveliscombe,

The Criminal Protection Service (with special responsibilities for whitewashing Politicians) is alive and thriving.Yet another 1st for 21st Century New Labour Britain.

philip, Ipswich,

There is only one way to test the evidence and that is in court. Trying the case on the evidence produced by the police would lead to acquittal or guilty in the public arena and there would be no suggestion of preferential treatment. No-one is above the law and in view of the considerable amount of public funds diverted to produce evidence it seems incredible that this is not to be tested , flushed away and no access given in the public domain. Let the people judge. This affair means we shall all be wearing pegs over our noses for some time.

John P Green, Wokingham, Berks

It is inconceivable that there was no connection between the loans and the honours and inconceivable that there wasn't dirty work involved too. But proving that it transgressed the law is quite different from whether it happened or not, particularly under the kind of spotlight that would shine and the dirty fight the politicians would start. Yes, he's got away with it again. Absolutely no doubt. A completely discredited individual and administration.

Kevin, Cork, Ireland

Absolutely disgusting.

Another bloody whitewash from this government.

Matt , Tokyo, Japan

Are we really supposed to take this seriously. Prominent people have been awarded peerages in return for supporting a policial party, so what is new about that. It has been going on for centuries. "Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, added: “This whole affair has diminished politics and politicians in the eyes of the public", is that a joke, it was Lloyd George the last Liberal PM who almost published a price list. Of course people get peerages in return for support, every prime minister has done it and to pretend this is unique to Blair is to regard the British public as fools.

Alan Lewis, Bangkok, Thailand

What a bloody farce! A disgusting and profligate waste of Taxpayer's money.
Heads should roll for this.
A disgrace.

Mike Rigby, Blackburn, England

Its disgraceful - I want my money back!

Fred, London,

The CPS have made a grave error of judgement. It is not only essential that justice be done, it must be seen to be done. They will say that their primary concern was the possibility of a failure of the prosecution. But in this case the primary concern was to put this in front of a jury and for the people concerned to be exonerated by the Court. It is only by that function that the people can both hear the evidence and see the case against.

The CPS must revise its decision and bring the case to Court. Anything less will totally undermine the respect of the people for the law.

Particularly, as things now stand, we can be certain that no policeman will ever again accept any report of wrongdoing by the part of anyone involved with government and carry out any investigation. An open book for anyone remotely involved with any party in power.

The case must be brought to a Court of law and the parties involved must face a jury of the people for respect of the law to be maintained.

Chris Coles, Medstead, Alton, United Kingdom

The entire investigation from the inception felt a bit strange. There was no need at this point in history for the police to take pressure off themselves with a power play against the government, was there? Internationally, the police seem to have the idea now that they can change governments or do just about anything they please. Too bad that their skill level does not match their desire to meddle. What a waste of time and energy that could have been put into something useful, such as designing modern training programs for the police. But best not to talk about that. The 1950s are a comfortable decade to live in. At least the police could learn how to read texts (I could give them a list of ten for training, but they certainly would not be interested). I remember a man being executed as a result of police bungling. There would have been no need for the torquing if police had just learned how to do their job. Try PowerPhone and deciphering the many errors in "The Mitrokhin Archive I."

Clayton Burns, Vancouver, Canada

I found the above post amazing. If they are not charged maybe they didn't do it ,whatever it was supposed to have been. It was obvious to me that the police were over zealous and desperate to charge someone. I came to this conclusion when they were trying to charge people over a cover up rather than the initial accusations.

The gulf is between the media and reality, with this time the police and some policeman in the middle trying to make a name for themselves.

Peter Charles, London,

Great decision - Lord Levy did nothing that has not been done for years immemorial and for every political party. This was a witchhunt from start to finish by those whose hatred of his background blinkered them to necessary realities of modern politics.

Jay, London, UK

Hysterically funny if it weren't so deperately sad.

Victor M., Malaga, Spain

Well, what a surprise!
Why is it that whenever any party is in power for more than two terms, there is an increasingly unpleasant smell?
It is almost as if they get the feeling they are above the normal rules that govern the rest of Society.

Patrick Adrian Chandler, Nelson, New Zealand

Yes John you played the cards right,I expect in a few years time,
you will be in line for a Honour.

Alan Walton, Leicester, England

In fairness, politics in general should not be further diminished by this - God knows it doesn't need it. This fiasco is the personal responsibilty of Tony Blair - and will form an indelible part of his so-called legacy.

Tonywjones44, Grantham, Lincs

What a surprise ! This is another snow job along the lines of that of the Kelly inquiry. Why are Blair and his colleagues " massively relieved " if there was no case to answer ?

M J Merriman, Nottingham, UK

WHITEWASH! Of course. Who expected anything else? If anyone was naive enough to expect that the crooks who run this country wouldn't just close ranks and destroy evidence then I wonder which world they're living in.

Dave, Notts, UK

Surprised? Surely not. This is the British establishment we are talking about here. The 'great and the good'. Bent as 9 bob notes. Always have been, always will be.

Ross, London,

Just look at the smile on Lord Levy's face. Can we say 'whitewash' girls and boys? I knew we could.

John, Essex, UK

How come Blair is above the law? First he stops the Serious Fraud Squad from investigating BAe so as not to upset the Saudis, and now he looks like getting this whitewash.

It'll be interesting to see if Chirac is above the law as well.

And then politicians wonder why people hold them in contempt and can't be bothered to vote?

Tom Majinsky, Milton Keynes, UK

Chuck Unsworth speaks the truth, the dignity of this great nation, the high esteem in which we were once held by the world, has been crucified by one greedy little egotist - Tony Blair

Chris, Chester, UK

On the good side, at least it helped to get rid of the pious despot Blair. On the bad side, those who have corrupted our democratic system are getting away with this. The statement by Jack Dromey that he'd been kept in the dark about the loans to his party is simply unbelievable - he is Labour's Treasurer (married to Harriet Harman). How can a Treasurer who is in control not know about millions of pounds of money coming into the bank? It's a disgrace. And we wonder why people take the law into their own hands.

Steve Wynn, London, UK

It's a funny substance Teflon - at least as far as my iron is concerned. Make it too hot for yourself and dark brown stains start to stick to it and are impossible to get off however hard you scrub. Teflon Tony's legacy?

Peter Harlock, London, UK

Rearrange these words into a popular phase or saying "wash white"!

Paul S Healey, York, UK

Does this outcome come as any real suprise?
First we have the police saying they will take action against the offenders, then we have the police saying they are afraid of the backlash from the politicians should there be insufficient evidence and finally the case is dropped. What goes on behind the scenes proves that there is one law for them and one law for us.
Even America has the balls to show that one is not above the law. England is now a broken, second rate country

Mike Jones, Farnborough, Hampshire

Another case of we are above the Law we are in Parliament.Did any one really think that someone would be convicted of wrongdoing in this most corrupt of Governments.I will neber trust what a politician says especially NEW LABOUR.

AMAC , St.Helens, England

This result must truly be the surprise of the century, I don't think. I just wonder how many millions this particular Anthony Bliar farce cost us. Or was it a tragi-comedy?
Funny how Conrad Black faces 20 or 30 years for offences that pale into insignificance in comparison, while the Bliar will live in luxury for the rest of his days.

Martin, Welwyn Garden City,

This being a global village, no surprise that Berlusconism - as a way to privatize public interests, to use an euphemism - has become a world standard.

As always, when ethics or inhibitory breaks (or call it as you like) fail, bad money drives good money out of circulation. That's what you're left with at the end of the day.

Claudio Frasca-Polara, Ascoli Piceno, Italy

So it proves to the ordinary citizen, that power really does corrupt and that greed and power go hand in hand,as this New Party of the people has shown by everyone of its members,especially if they agree that there is no case to answer.As for expecting the tax payer to fund their parties -we already give them a life of a fat cat so let it stop there,for I wuold lead any revolt against party funding,it is time that these people who drain away the life blood of the nation were made to account,for every deed and act they do -and only be paid by results and jailed for their misdeeds.

owen haren, Gateshead,

A blatant political attack producing nothing. Congratulations, SNP and Met Police.

Richard Block, London,

Another Government WHITE WASH. No wonder the public have lost all faith in politics and politicians. This case should be brought to trial so that the public and tax payers can form their own conclusions from the evidence. If everybody is innocent then a court of law will show this and there would be no cry of "cover up". No wonder the law is held in such low regard.

ormes, TAUNTON, Somerset

to echo another reader; what a surprise.

Phil Barnes, preston,

"They must think that we are all blind and stupid!"

Maybe we are. We have the government we deserve. They know they can get away with blue murder because we'll let them. There has never been such a gap between the electorate and the governing elite. This 'me me me' attitude of society, and the selfishness of consumerism makes us weak. This malaise distracts us from the reality, it keeps us quiet. I have never before felt so afraid of our polity, nor so powerless. The scorn with which politicians treat us is contemptible. Where will it go next?

Michael Anthony, Birmingham, UK

So why would anybody be charged over this silly little episode anyway? If fools and their money want to be parted - fine. Peerages are like personlised number plates. If you want one in the first place you have a defective character. Retire the ludicrous Clouseau, who has wandered about feeling important for months with attractive girls carrying his briefcase and send the bill for this farce to that loutish little Scottish MP who started it all.

eric campbell, harrogate, uk

Another white wash. Teflon Tony survives again. The very idea that the bar for evidence has to be higher because of the sensitivities is a disgrace. It is like giving them the right to a higher speed limit allowance or a higher drink limit. They have all spent too much time studying the old Soviet Union and their methods.

Roger parkes, Tunbridge Wells,

Teflon Tony gets away with it again, im shocked and stunned honest!!!.This man and his band of cronies have done more damage (and still are) to this great nation than two world wars and Lloyd George put together. We are overdue a clean sweep!.

shaun mccormick, hereford, england

I feel upset in that my tax money was spent over sixteen months when it was clear after one week that a conviction was not possible. Who was going to put his/her hand up and say yes I offered a peerage in return for money. Who was going to put his/her hand up and say yes I was offered a peerage if I paid up and further more I can prove it. Anyone who believes that such deals are committed to paper should not be in charge of an investigation, and how long does it take to check a few e-mails and hard discs.
It seems to me this investigation was draged out by someone high up in the police with an anti-government, anti-Blair axe to grind.
As for the media, it was obvious that there would be no criminal charges when Mr Blair was given the Middle East job, or is also the case that the media had an anti-government, anti-Blair bias.

Anthony Jaynes, Alton, UK

How dare they! how dare they! i'm ashsamed to be English!
i'm lost for words! Mulgarbie for prime minister next?

Bob Gibson, Auckland, New Zealand

Teflon Tony strikes again, no suprise to anyone given the current politics in government and justice organisations.

John Jarrett, Kampala, Uganda

Power corrupts, absolute Power corrupts absolutely!

Andy Moore, Solihull, England

how sad that so many people write in disappointed that the accused are not guilty ,what has happened to us that the mob are not satisfied when people are found to be innocent -we seem to have changed into a society of old ladies with knitting needles waiting for prominent heads to roll. i would be happier seeing the police investigating mr mcneill for wasting police time and finding out what his motives were and wether he had a particular prize in mind .personally my heart goes out to the unfortunate people whose lives were held in terror for so long .

phil, manchester,

Yawn.... The Establishment rules still. Clearly John Yates was a "sound" choice.

Gerry Watts, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia

Yates is a fool to think that that he will ever recover from this nonsense. This 'wanna-be' a celebrity cop played stupid games with the media by leaking stories and enjoying a high profile.His less inept colleagues recognised the cash for peerages job as being a poisoned chalice, he found out too late. If you want to be a star Mr Yates then get a job on the stage or join Big Brother.

William, bournemouth, uk

Did anyone really expect anything else? All these public inquiries and long drawn out investigation have the primary purpose of vindicating the members and friends of the government and invariably fulfil that purpose at huge cost to the tax payer.T'was always so and always wil lbe

George Herbert, Bournemouth, Dorset

Are we really supposed to take this seriously. Prominent people have been awarded peerages in return for supporting a policial party, so what is new about that. It has been going on for centuries. "Sir Menzies Campbell, the Liberal Democrat leader, added: “This whole affair has diminished politics and politicians in the eyes of the public", is that a joke, it was Lloyd George the last Liberal PM who almost published a price list. Of course people get peerages in return for support, every prime minister has done it and to pretend this is unique to Blair is to regard the British public as fools.

Alan Lewis, Bangkok, Thailand

What did we expect, “The sticking-point has been the admissibility of evidence obtained by the police. The bar has been raised incredibly high because of the sensitivities.” or in other words the CPS have thrown out the case because these people are 'untouchables', any other person would have been prosecuted as the bar would have been lowered!

Les, Southport, England

Hardly a satisfactory outcome: Labour ghouls get to savage Yates whilst the public sees yet another whitewash of the establishment by the establishment. And Blair gets to keep his smarmy grin.

But the worst aspect by far is that the reputation of politics and politicians, in the eyes of the public, remains firmy swamped in the gutter's mire.

Blair may be breathing relief for a few short moments, but he will find, as the man responsible for the whole affair, that mire is awfully sticky stuff when it comes to one's legacy .

Edwin Thornber, Bucharest,

TYPICAL...........

It is said that crime does not pay!

Politicians seem to find it more than profitable...................

And they wonder why WE do not trust THEM?

Schmuel, Peterborough, England

This is Blair's real 'Legacy'. It is beyond parody. It is beyond words. I weep for my country.

Where is there any dignity, honesty, morality and integrity now?

This once great nation has been destroyed. We are a truly broken society.

Chuck Unsworth, London,

Be interesting to see the comments on here. How many of us believe in this decision. Sir Menzies is correct this whole investigation has done irreparable damage to Politics in this country - many people simply do not believe politicians anymore, especially when this is allied to spin.

Ian Burgess, Bristol,

Good old Tone you`ve got away with it again.

N.Riley, Runcorn, England

So the Keystones chickened out. No way will Blair ever be indicted for war crimes, so the "Al Capone tax evasion routine" was the only option. The wheels of God grind slowly but they grind exceeding small. There will be a reckoning, hopefully in this life. But if not, "The deepest circles of Hell are reserved for traitors and war criminals". To paraphrase Captain Jack.

Andrew Milner, Yokohama, Kanagawa

cant say much

unshoe, delhi, india

This is a bit like the Hutton hearings again. Where politics, the media and the law mix there is a danger that reporting and speculation build up such a momentum that anything but a Guilty outcome are widely greeted with hostility and disbelief. We need to know far more about the facts of course but this is another worrying instance of a good story becoming more important than rational thinking and the long term interest of our society

PRW Richardson, Welwyn, UK

If nothing else, the long police investigation was a shot across the bows of the most devious and tarnished government since that of Lloyd George.

Rev Dr John Cameron, St Andrews, Fife

Whitewash.

james, london,

Surprise, surprise!

Congratulations nonetheless, Lord-to-be Yates.

Noel Falconer, COUIZA, France

GRR! I might have known it would all get pushed under the carpet.

They must think that we are all blind and stupid!

Barbara, Staffordshire, England