Former Premier Tony Blair has been arrested on suspicion of selling his job as Prime Minister to his former Chancellor and party colleague Gordon Brown.
Officers from the Serious Fraud Squad swooped as Blair left 10 Downing Street for the last time. As his cortege of removal vans turned into Whitehall it was brought to a stop by a number of police vehicles. Blair was seen being led from the back of a lorry to a waiting black maria.
A police spokesman would only confirm that a 54-year-old white man had been taken into custody and was assisting them with their enquiries.
Sources close to the Director of Public Prosecutions have told us they are ecstatic. Having failed to nail him for either the peerages racket or complicity in bunging billions of pounds to Prince Bandar bin Sultan, they feel sure they have now nailed him bang to rights.
It is thought the deal, which was brokered in exchange for Blair becoming opposition leader, allowed Brown to assume the top job, "on the nod".