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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Arrested MP 'told he faced life' | Arrested MP 'told he faced life' |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The MP arrested in an inquiry into Home Office leaks says police told him he faced life in jail if convicted. | The MP arrested in an inquiry into Home Office leaks says police told him he faced life in jail if convicted. |
| Tory immigration spokesman Damian Green told BBC Two's Newsnight that officers said: "Do you realise that this offence could lead to life imprisonment?" | Tory immigration spokesman Damian Green told BBC Two's Newsnight that officers said: "Do you realise that this offence could lead to life imprisonment?" |
| Home Office worker Christopher Galley, who was also arrested, told the Daily Mail police said the same thing to him. | Home Office worker Christopher Galley, who was also arrested, told the Daily Mail police said the same thing to him. |
| Mr Galley and Mr Green, the MP for Ashford, learnt on Thursday they would not be charged over the leaks. | Mr Galley and Mr Green, the MP for Ashford, learnt on Thursday they would not be charged over the leaks. |
| Mr Green was arrested in November and held by the Metropolitan Police for nine hours on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office, and aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office". | |
| 'Absurd' | 'Absurd' |
| But the director of public prosecutions announced on Thursday the leaked information was not damaging enough for charges to be brought against either man involved. | But the director of public prosecutions announced on Thursday the leaked information was not damaging enough for charges to be brought against either man involved. |
| Mr Green and Mr Galley, who passed on the information, have always denied any wrongdoing over the leaks which related to immigration and crime. | Mr Green and Mr Galley, who passed on the information, have always denied any wrongdoing over the leaks which related to immigration and crime. |
| When asked about the warning of life imprisonment on Newsnight, Mr Green said: "I assume it's because it's a common law offence therefore because there is... no law on the statute book which I was alleged to have broken, then presumably there is no set sentence for it. | When asked about the warning of life imprisonment on Newsnight, Mr Green said: "I assume it's because it's a common law offence therefore because there is... no law on the statute book which I was alleged to have broken, then presumably there is no set sentence for it. |
| "I just thought this was absurd." | "I just thought this was absurd." |
| Mr Green earlier said he was "very pleased" at the decision not to charge him over the leaks, but called the government "out-of-touch and authoritarian". | Mr Green earlier said he was "very pleased" at the decision not to charge him over the leaks, but called the government "out-of-touch and authoritarian". |
| The MP's home and his offices in Kent and in the Houses of Parliament were searched as part of the inquiry. | The MP's home and his offices in Kent and in the Houses of Parliament were searched as part of the inquiry. |
| The parliamentary search took place without a warrant and led to calls for Commons Speaker Michael Martin's resignation. | The parliamentary search took place without a warrant and led to calls for Commons Speaker Michael Martin's resignation. |
| MPs from all parties also complained the arrests and subsequent searches could undermine the ability of politicians to hold the government to account and raised concerns about the confidentiality of information held about constituents. | MPs from all parties also complained the arrests and subsequent searches could undermine the ability of politicians to hold the government to account and raised concerns about the confidentiality of information held about constituents. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has defended the decision to make the arrests, saying it would have been "irresponsible" for the police not to have taken action. | Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has defended the decision to make the arrests, saying it would have been "irresponsible" for the police not to have taken action. |