Police want to quiz 40 Tories on peerages

Scotland Yard officers want to interview as many as 40 senior Tories as part of the cash for peerages inquiry.

Detectives have already questioned at least four of the 13 benefactors who lent the Conservatives £16million before the 2005 general election.

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But in a significant widening of the investigation, officers want to contact up to 80 people from the two main parties, including between 30 and 40 Tories. However, Tory insiders revealed that a small number of donors have resisted helping the police.

The inquiry, led by deputy assistant commissioner John Yates, is examining whether financial backers of Labour and the Conservatives were subsequently recommended for honours.

The inquiry's focus has shifted from Labour to the Conservatives in the last week, fuelling suspicions among the Tories of a "dirty tricks operation" designed to destabilise the party conference in Bournemouth.

Among those interviewed by the police were the former Conservative party Treasurer Lord Ashcroft, who made a £3.5 million donation, Robert Edmiston, a Midlands industrialist who donated £2 million, and the Scottish businessman Lord Laidlaw, who lent £3.5 million.

The Conservatives said nobody from Central Office had been questioned. The police had not asked to see David Cameron, party chairman Francis Maude or former leader Michael Howard.