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Cross-party fury over MP's arrest Cross-party fury over MP's arrest
(about 1 hour later)
The Lib Dems have called shadow immigration minister Damian Green's arrest a "mayday warning" for democracy amid cross-party anger over the move.The Lib Dems have called shadow immigration minister Damian Green's arrest a "mayday warning" for democracy amid cross-party anger over the move.
Mr Green was held for nine hours by Special Branch on Thursday and had his two homes and offices searched as part of a Home Office leak inquiry. Mr Green was arrested by anti-terror officers, held for nine hours and had his two homes and offices searched as part of a Home Office leak inquiry.
Tory leader David Cameron called the police operation "alarming" and said the government had questions to answer.Tory leader David Cameron called the police operation "alarming" and said the government had questions to answer.
But the Home Office said ministers were not informed until after the arrest.But the Home Office said ministers were not informed until after the arrest.
'Democracy in danger''Democracy in danger'
Mr Cameron, London mayor Boris Johnson and Commons Speaker Michael Martin were all informed about the raids.Mr Cameron, London mayor Boris Johnson and Commons Speaker Michael Martin were all informed about the raids.
But Downing Street insisted ministers had not been given advance warning and Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was purely a police matter.But Downing Street insisted ministers had not been given advance warning and Prime Minister Gordon Brown said it was purely a police matter.
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 arrestedNick Robinson's viewThe decision to make today's arrest was taken solely by the MPS without any ministerial knowledge or approval Metropolitan Police Q&A: Damian Green arrestedNick Robinson's view
"I had no prior knowledge, the home secretary had no prior knowledge, I know of no other minister who had any prior knowledge," he told Sky News, adding: "I knew about it only after it had happened.""I had no prior knowledge, the home secretary had no prior knowledge, I know of no other minister who had any prior knowledge," he told Sky News, adding: "I knew about it only after it had happened."
Mr Green was not charged with any offence but was released on bail until February, when he could face further questioning.Mr Green was not charged with any offence but was released on bail until February, when he could face further questioning.
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said democracy was "in danger" when events such as Mr Green's arrest could take place. The Ashford MP, the Tories' immigration spokesman since 2005, has denied any wrongdoing and said "opposition politicians have a duty to hold the government to account".
Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg told the BBC that he was "really shocked" by Mr Green's arrest.
"This is something you might expect from a tin-pot dictatorship, not in a modern democracy," he said."This is something you might expect from a tin-pot dictatorship, not in a modern democracy," he said.
He called on the prime minister to "rule out any further use of anti-terrorism powers in cases that have nothing to do with terrorism" and to "confirm when the home secretary was informed of the police raids". Given the culture of "extraordinary secrecy" in Whitehall, it was getting harder to hold the government to account and opposition MPs had a constitutional duty to keep "ministers on their toes", he added.
David Cameron condemned the "heavy-handed" way in which nine anti-terrorism officers were sent to arrest Mr Green and search his home. He called on Gordon Brown to "rule out any further use of anti-terrorism powers in cases that have nothing to do with terrorism".
"I think these are extraordinary and frankly rather worrying circumstances," he said. David Cameron condemned the "heavy-handed" way in which nine anti-terrorism officers were sent to arrest Mr Green.
"If they wanted to talk to Damian Green why not pick up the telephone and ask to talk to him. I think this is extraordinary that it was so heavy-handed and done in this way. "If they wanted to talk to Damian Green why not pick up the telephone and ask to talk to him," he said. "I think this is extraordinary that it was so heavy-handed and done in this way.
"They have got questions to answer, frankly, I think government ministers have got questions to answer as well. If they didn't know, why weren't they told?"They have got questions to answer, frankly, I think government ministers have got questions to answer as well. If they didn't know, why weren't they told?
"What do they think about in Britain today, counter-terrorism police are spending their time searching an MP's office, arresting him, holding him for nine hours, all on a day when British citizens are being killed on the other side of the world and all because, as far as I can see, he made public some information that was in the public interest that the government found uncomfortable."What do they think about in Britain today, counter-terrorism police are spending their time searching an MP's office, arresting him, holding him for nine hours, all on a day when British citizens are being killed on the other side of the world and all because, as far as I can see, he made public some information that was in the public interest that the government found uncomfortable.
"Well, let's hope that our democracy hasn't come to that.""Well, let's hope that our democracy hasn't come to that."
LeaksLeaks
Sir David Normington, the top civil servant at the Home Office, said he had taken the decision to ask for police help in identifying the source of a series of "leaks of sensitive information over an extended period," which he said "risked undermining the effective operation of my department".Sir David Normington, the top civil servant at the Home Office, said he had taken the decision to ask for police help in identifying the source of a series of "leaks of sensitive information over an extended period," which he said "risked undermining the effective operation of my department".
"The police investigation led to a junior member of the Home Office being arrested on 19 November and subsequently suspended from duty," said Sir David in a statement."The police investigation led to a junior member of the Home Office being arrested on 19 November and subsequently suspended from duty," said Sir David in a statement.
I am not sure this is good for British democracy Denns MacShaneLabour MPI am not sure this is good for British democracy Denns MacShaneLabour MP
"Yesterday (Thursday), I was informed by the Metropolitan Police at about 1.45pm that a search was about to be conducted of the home and offices of a member of the Opposition front bench. I was subsequently told that an arrest had been made."Yesterday (Thursday), I was informed by the Metropolitan Police at about 1.45pm that a search was about to be conducted of the home and offices of a member of the Opposition front bench. I was subsequently told that an arrest had been made.
"Ministers were not involved in the decision to seek police assistance or in the subsequent investigation and were only told of the arrest after it had occurred. This is an ongoing police investigation so it would be inappropriate to comment any further." "Ministers were not involved in the decision to seek police assistance or in the subsequent investigation and were only told of the arrest after it had occurred."
The leaks thought to be at the centre of the investigation include:
  • The November 2007 revelation that the home secretary knew the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers, but decided not to publicise it.
  • The February 2008 news that an illegal immigrant had been employed as a cleaner in the House of Commons.
  • A whips' list of potential Labour rebels in the vote on plans to increase the pre-charge terror detention limit to 42 days.
  • A letter from the home secretary warning that a recession could lead to a rise in crime.
The leaks thought to be at the centre of the investigation include:
  • The November 2007 revelation that the home secretary knew the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers, but decided not to publicise it.
  • The February 2008 news that an illegal immigrant had been employed as a cleaner in the House of Commons.
  • A whips' list of potential Labour rebels in the vote on plans to increase the pre-charge terror detention limit to 42 days.
  • A letter from the home secretary warning that a recession could lead to a rise in crime.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed that Mr Green was arrested by members of its counter-terrorism command, thought to be Special Branch officers, and searches were conducted at his homes in London and Kent and at two offices in Kent and London. The Metropolitan Police confirmed Mr Green was arrested by members of its counter-terrorism command, thought to be Special Branch officers, at his home in Kent and searches were conducted at his homes in London and Kent and at two offices in Kent and London.
It said the investigation was not terrorism related but did fall within the counter-terror unit's remit. It said the investigation was not terrorism related but did fall within the counter-terror unit's remit and that it was made without the knowledge or approval of ministers.
'Fair game''Fair game'
A Conservative backbencher said Speaker Michael Martin would face calls for his resignation if he cannot give a good explanation for why police were allowed to search Mr Green's offices in the House of Commons.
Writing on his internet blog, Harwich MP Douglas Carswell said: "If it turns out that the Speaker of the House of Commons gave the go-ahead for this raid, I will be demanding to his face, on every occasion that I can, that Mr Martin now quit."
Mr Green said he was just doing his job and would do the same again
There was also concern about the arrest on the Labour benches.There was also concern about the arrest on the Labour benches.
Former minister Denis MacShane said that the Speaker should make clear that MPs were entitled to hold sensitive material in the same way as lawyers and doctors.Former minister Denis MacShane said that the Speaker should make clear that MPs were entitled to hold sensitive material in the same way as lawyers and doctors.
Mr Green said he was just doing his job and would do the same again
"To send a squad of counter terrorist officers to arrest an MP shows the growing police contempt for Parliament and democratic politics," he said."To send a squad of counter terrorist officers to arrest an MP shows the growing police contempt for Parliament and democratic politics," he said.
"The police now believe that MPs are so reduced in public status that they are fair game for over-excited officers to order dawn raids, arrests and searches of confidential files held by MPs or those who work for them."The police now believe that MPs are so reduced in public status that they are fair game for over-excited officers to order dawn raids, arrests and searches of confidential files held by MPs or those who work for them.
"I am not sure this is good for British democracy.""I am not sure this is good for British democracy."
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" - an obscure and little-used offence under common law.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" - an obscure and little-used offence under common law.
The Ashford MP, who has been the Tories' immigration spokesman since 2005, 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". One legal expert said it was doubtful whether any case would be brought against Mr Green.
Mr Green, who has been the Conservatives' immigration spokesman since December 2005, was arrested shortly before 1400 GMT on Thursday at his constituency home. "In a western democracy, I think it would be very surprising if an elected member of Parliament was put on trial for an offence which arises from him putting in the public domain material that he thinks should be there in the public interest," said Robert Brown, a partner at the law firm Corker Binning.
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.
"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.