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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cameron condemns Tory leak arrest | Cameron condemns Tory leak arrest |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Tory leader David Cameron has reacted angrily to the arrest of his immigration spokesman, describing the police operation as "heavy handed". | Tory leader David Cameron has reacted angrily to the arrest of his immigration spokesman, describing the police operation as "heavy handed". |
| Damian Green was questioned by counter-terrorism officers for nine hours and his home and office searched as part of an inquiry into Home Office leaks. | Damian Green was questioned by counter-terrorism officers for nine hours and his home and office searched as part of an inquiry into Home Office leaks. |
| Mr Cameron said his crime was making public information "the government didn't want to be made public". | Mr Cameron said his crime was making public information "the government didn't want to be made public". |
| The government has said it had no prior knowledge of the arrest. | The government has said it had no prior knowledge of the arrest. |
| The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Mr Green was arrested by members of its counter-terrorism command. It said the investigation was not terrorism related but did fall within the counter-terror unit's remit. | The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Mr Green was arrested by members of its counter-terrorism command. It said the investigation was not terrorism related but did fall within the counter-terror unit's remit. |
| The decision to make today's arrest was taken solely by the MPS without any ministerial knowledge or approval Metropolitan Police Q&A: Damian Green arrested | |
| Immigration minister Phil Woolas said he was "taken aback" by the news when he saw it in the media. | Immigration minister Phil Woolas said he was "taken aback" by the news when he saw it in the media. |
| "As far as I am aware no ministers had any knowledge of this," he told the BBC. | "As far as I am aware no ministers had any knowledge of this," he told the BBC. |
| Asked about accusations of police heavy handedness, Mr Woolas said the police were independent of government and pointed out that "people were taken from their homes" during the recent cash for honours inquiry into Labour donations. | Asked about accusations of police heavy handedness, Mr Woolas said the police were independent of government and pointed out that "people were taken from their homes" during the recent cash for honours inquiry into Labour donations. |
| He added: "The wise thing to do is to wait and see what happens". | He added: "The wise thing to do is to wait and see what happens". |
| 'Astonished' | 'Astonished' |
| Police say Mr Green was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office" and "aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office". He was released on bail until a date in February. | Police say Mr Green was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office" and "aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office". He was released on bail until a date in February. |
| The MP has denied any wrongdoing and said "opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account" and that he would "continue to do so". | The MP has denied any wrongdoing and said "opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account" and that he would "continue to do so". |
| Mr Green's arrest is believed to be connected to the arrest of a 26-year-old man suspected of being a Home Office whistleblower. | Mr Green's arrest is believed to be connected to the arrest of a 26-year-old man suspected of being a Home Office whistleblower. |
| Mr Green said he was just doing his job and would do the same again | Mr Green said he was just doing his job and would do the same again |
| Speaking outside the House of Commons, Mr Green said: "I was astonished to have spent more than nine hours today under arrest for doing my job. | Speaking outside the House of Commons, Mr Green said: "I was astonished to have spent more than nine hours today under arrest for doing my job. |
| "I emphatically deny I have done anything wrong. I have many times made public information that the government wanted to keep secret - information that the public has a right to know. | "I emphatically deny I have done anything wrong. I have many times made public information that the government wanted to keep secret - information that the public has a right to know. |
| "In a democracy, opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account. | "In a democracy, opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account. |
| "I was elected to the House of Commons precisely to do that and I certainly intend to continue doing so." | "I was elected to the House of Commons precisely to do that and I certainly intend to continue doing so." |
| Leaks | Leaks |
| The BBC understands that a junior Home Office official was suspended from duty 10 days ago over a number of leaks and the matter was referred to police. He was arrested but not charged. | The BBC understands that a junior Home Office official was suspended from duty 10 days ago over a number of leaks and the matter was referred to police. He was arrested but not charged. |
It follows a series of leaks, including:
| It follows a series of leaks, including:
|
| 'Big questions' | 'Big questions' |
| Speaking on BBC One's Question Time, shadow chancellor George Osborne said: "I think it's absolutely extraordinary that the police have taken that decision. | Speaking on BBC One's Question Time, shadow chancellor George Osborne said: "I think it's absolutely extraordinary that the police have taken that decision. |
| "It has long been the case in our democracy that MPs have received information from civil servants - I think to hide information from the public is wrong. | "It has long been the case in our democracy that MPs have received information from civil servants - I think to hide information from the public is wrong. |
| Disclosure of this information was manifestly in the public interest Conservative Party Profile: Damian Green | |
| "It is early days, it's an extraordinary case. I think there are going to be some very, very big questions asked of the police." | "It is early days, it's an extraordinary case. I think there are going to be some very, very big questions asked of the police." |
| A spokesman for the Conservative Party said Mr Green had "on a number of occasions, legitimately revealed information which the Home Office chose not to make public". | A spokesman for the Conservative Party said Mr Green had "on a number of occasions, legitimately revealed information which the Home Office chose not to make public". |
| The spokesman added: "Disclosure of this information was manifestly in the public interest. | The spokesman added: "Disclosure of this information was manifestly in the public interest. |
| "Mr Green denies any wrongdoing and stands by his actions." | "Mr Green denies any wrongdoing and stands by his actions." |
| Conservative sources said a police investigation into a high-ranking politician would have to have been cleared at "the very top" and have described the actions as "Stalinesque". | Conservative sources said a police investigation into a high-ranking politician would have to have been cleared at "the very top" and have described the actions as "Stalinesque". |
| 'No prior knowledge' | 'No prior knowledge' |
| But a Downing Street spokesman said: "This is a matter for the police. The prime minister had no prior knowledge of the arrest of Mr Green and was only informed after the event." | But a Downing Street spokesman said: "This is a matter for the police. The prime minister had no prior knowledge of the arrest of Mr Green and was only informed after the event." |
| Mayor of London Boris Johnson has said he was informed in advance of the Met's plan to arrest Mr Green, and expressed "trenchant" concerns about the move. | Mayor of London Boris Johnson has said he was informed in advance of the Met's plan to arrest Mr Green, and expressed "trenchant" concerns about the move. |
| Mr Green, the MP for Ashford in Kent, who has been the Conservatives' immigration spokesman since December 2005, was arrested shortly before 1400 GMT at his constituency home. | Mr Green, the MP for Ashford in Kent, who has been the Conservatives' immigration spokesman since December 2005, was arrested shortly before 1400 GMT at his constituency home. |
| The Tories say they understand nine counter-terrorism officers were involved in searches of his home and offices. | The Tories say they understand nine counter-terrorism officers were involved in searches of his home and offices. |
| In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said the arrest was made without any ministerial influence. | In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said the arrest was made without any ministerial influence. |
| They said: "The investigation into the alleged leak of confidential government material followed the receipt by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) of a complaint from the Cabinet Office. | They said: "The investigation into the alleged leak of confidential government material followed the receipt by the Metropolitan Police Service (MPS) of a complaint from the Cabinet Office. |
| "The decision to make today's arrest was taken solely by the MPS without any ministerial knowledge or approval." | "The decision to make today's arrest was taken solely by the MPS without any ministerial knowledge or approval." |
| It said search warrants had been carried out at a home in Kent, a home in west London, business premises in Kent and in central London. | It said search warrants had been carried out at a home in Kent, a home in west London, business premises in Kent and in central London. |
| "The search at the residential address in west London has concluded, the other searches continue," it added. | "The search at the residential address in west London has concluded, the other searches continue," it added. |
| A Home Office spokesman confirmed that a Home Office official had been arrested last week "in connection with an inquiry into alleged leaked documents". | A Home Office spokesman confirmed that a Home Office official had been arrested last week "in connection with an inquiry into alleged leaked documents". |
| The Lib Dems said Mr Green's arrest was a "worrying development" with serious implications for the balance of power between the government and parliament. | The Lib Dems said Mr Green's arrest was a "worrying development" with serious implications for the balance of power between the government and parliament. |
| "Receiving information from government departments in the public interest and publicising it is a key part of any MP's role," said Chris Huhne, the party's home affairs spokesman. | "Receiving information from government departments in the public interest and publicising it is a key part of any MP's role," said Chris Huhne, the party's home affairs spokesman. |
| "It seems that either the law needs to be changed over the police have overstepped the mark." | "It seems that either the law needs to be changed over the police have overstepped the mark." |