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Row over Green 'grooming' claims Row over Green 'grooming' claims
(40 minutes later)
Senior Tories are furious police accused MP Damian Green of "grooming" a Home Office mole when he was arrested last week.Senior Tories are furious police accused MP Damian Green of "grooming" a Home Office mole when he was arrested last week.
This latest revelation comes amid reports angry MPs may disrupt the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday. This latest revelation comes amid reports angry MPs may disrupt the state opening of Parliament on Wednesday.
On the same day, Commons Speaker Michael Martin will address Parliament about the raid on Mr Green's offices.On the same day, Commons Speaker Michael Martin will address Parliament about the raid on Mr Green's offices.
Meanwhile, many MPs are reported to be dissatisfied with Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's response so far to the arrest.Meanwhile, many MPs are reported to be dissatisfied with Home Secretary Jacqui Smith's response so far to the arrest.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said when police questioned Mr Green - the Conservative's immigration spokesman - they had suggested to him that he had not "simply received leaked" information but "groomed" a civil servant who allegedly passed him 20 confidential documents.BBC political editor Nick Robinson said when police questioned Mr Green - the Conservative's immigration spokesman - they had suggested to him that he had not "simply received leaked" information but "groomed" a civil servant who allegedly passed him 20 confidential documents.
The man, who has been named in newspapers, was a Tory activist who is believed to have previously applied for jobs in Mr Green's office.The man, who has been named in newspapers, was a Tory activist who is believed to have previously applied for jobs in Mr Green's office.
Treatment denouncedTreatment denounced
There is outrage over the police's use of the controversial term "groomed" because it is usually used in relation to child sex offences.There is outrage over the police's use of the controversial term "groomed" because it is usually used in relation to child sex offences.
Mr Green was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office, but not charged, by police investigating leaks from the Home Office.Mr Green was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office, but not charged, by police investigating leaks from the Home Office.
The Ashford MP, who denies any wrongdoing, was held for nine hours while his homes and offices were searched.The Ashford MP, who denies any wrongdoing, was held for nine hours while his homes and offices were searched.
Many MPs from across all parties have denounced Mr Green's treatment since his arrest on Thursday.Many MPs from across all parties have denounced Mr Green's treatment since his arrest on Thursday.
The Daily Telegraph has reported that some politicians are threatening to disrupt the State Opening of Parliament on Wednesday in protest at the situation. The Daily Telegraph has reported that some politicians are threatening to disrupt the state opening of Parliament on Wednesday in protest at the situation.
It said that senior Conservatives were considering organising a walkout unless the authorities apologised. At issue is whether he should have allowed the police to enter and search Mr Green's Westminster offices Gary O' DonoghueBBC Political Correspondent Green arrest adds Tory edgeNick Robinson's Newslog It said that senior Conservatives were considering organising a walk-out unless the authorities apologised. At issue is whether he should have allowed the police to enter and search Mr Green's Westminster offices Gary O' DonoghueBBC Political Correspondent Green arrest adds Tory edgeNick Robinson's Newslog
Many MPs have said they believe the raids on Mr Green's Commons offices amounted to an attack on their ability to represent constituents and hold the government to account.Many MPs have said they believe the raids on Mr Green's Commons offices amounted to an attack on their ability to represent constituents and hold the government to account.
The Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, is also under pressure to justify why he had allowed police to enter Parliament and search Mr Green's office.The Speaker of the House of Commons, Michael Martin, is also under pressure to justify why he had allowed police to enter Parliament and search Mr Green's office.
His office has said he will address MPs on Wednesday.His office has said he will address MPs on Wednesday.
BBC Political correspondent Gary O' Donoghue said it was only "sensible" for the speaker to respond. Tory MP Ed Vaizey said the arrest had been an "outrage".
"At issue is whether he should have allowed the police to enter and search Mr Green's Westminster offices," our correspondent said. He said: "The idea of the police arresting an MP and searching his office, I think, crosses a very important line - particularly on the nature of the investigation, which was to do with receiving documents from a government department which this government department would rather this MP had not done."
Former Labour minister Denis MacShane called the raids "a mammoth breach in the core democratic doctrine of parliamentary privilege".Former Labour minister Denis MacShane called the raids "a mammoth breach in the core democratic doctrine of parliamentary privilege".
Writing in the Telegraph, he said MPs would need to hear an assurance from the Speaker that such an incident would "never, ever happen again under his watch".Writing in the Telegraph, he said MPs would need to hear an assurance from the Speaker that such an incident would "never, ever happen again under his watch".
"I've not spoken to a single Labour MP who is not frankly outraged, from Cabinet ministers down to backbenchers. There is a real sense that this is a constitutional outrage," he said."I've not spoken to a single Labour MP who is not frankly outraged, from Cabinet ministers down to backbenchers. There is a real sense that this is a constitutional outrage," he said.
'Stalinist''Stalinist'
However, Ms Smith has refused to apologise for Mr Green's arrest and on Sunday told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme it would have been "Stalinist" for her to intervene in a police investigation.However, Ms Smith has refused to apologise for Mr Green's arrest and on Sunday told the BBC's Andrew Marr programme it would have been "Stalinist" for her to intervene in a police investigation.
Pressed by Andrew Marr about what she knew when, Ms Smith said she had known there was a leak inquiry going on and knew in advance that a Home Office official was being arrested as part of it on 11 November.Pressed by Andrew Marr about what she knew when, Ms Smith said she had known there was a leak inquiry going on and knew in advance that a Home Office official was being arrested as part of it on 11 November.
Jacqui Smith challenged over Damian Green's arrestJacqui Smith challenged over Damian Green's arrest
She has maintained there was no ministerial involvement in the investigation and said she only knew about Mr Green's arrest after it happened.She has maintained there was no ministerial involvement in the investigation and said she only knew about Mr Green's arrest after it happened.
The prime minister has always insisted that ministers, including the home secretary, had no "prior knowledge" of the arrest.The prime minister has always insisted that ministers, including the home secretary, had no "prior knowledge" of the arrest.
But Leader of the Commons Harriet Harman has said she is determined to investigate how it was possible for the authorities to allow the raid on Mr Green's Commons office to take place.But Leader of the Commons Harriet Harman has said she is determined to investigate how it was possible for the authorities to allow the raid on Mr Green's Commons office to take place.
She has told Mr Martin an urgent review of procedures was needed.She has told Mr Martin an urgent review of procedures was needed.
"We have got to be sure that whilst MPs are not above the law, that actually they are able to get on with their job without unwarranted interference by the law," she said."We have got to be sure that whilst MPs are not above the law, that actually they are able to get on with their job without unwarranted interference by the law," she said.
"These are very, very big constitutional principles, we have to make sure they are protected.""These are very, very big constitutional principles, we have to make sure they are protected."
The chairman of the commons public administration committee, Tony Wright, has said he will set up an inquiry into how these matters should be handled in the future.The chairman of the commons public administration committee, Tony Wright, has said he will set up an inquiry into how these matters should be handled in the future.