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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| No 10 denies MP 'bugging' tip-off | No 10 denies MP 'bugging' tip-off |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Downing Street says Gordon Brown was unaware that one of his MPs may have been bugged by police as he visited a constituent in prison. | Downing Street says Gordon Brown was unaware that one of his MPs may have been bugged by police as he visited a constituent in prison. |
| A government inquiry is under way into claims that Sadiq Khan's meetings with Babar Ahmad at Woodhill Prison were listened to by anti-terror officers. | A government inquiry is under way into claims that Sadiq Khan's meetings with Babar Ahmad at Woodhill Prison were listened to by anti-terror officers. |
| Shadow home secretary David Davis says he wrote to the PM in December to warn him a Labour MP may have been bugged. | Shadow home secretary David Davis says he wrote to the PM in December to warn him a Labour MP may have been bugged. |
| But No 10 said they could find no record of Mr Davis' letter. | But No 10 said they could find no record of Mr Davis' letter. |
| Mr Khan's constituent, Babar Ahmad, faces no charges in the UK but is awaiting a decision from the European courts to discover if he will be extradited to the US, on suspicion of running websites raising funds for the Taleban. | Mr Khan's constituent, Babar Ahmad, faces no charges in the UK but is awaiting a decision from the European courts to discover if he will be extradited to the US, on suspicion of running websites raising funds for the Taleban. |
| Inquiry announced | Inquiry announced |
| The Sunday Times claimed Mr Khan's visits to him in jail in Milton Keynes in 2005 and 2006, were bugged by Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch. Scotland Yard has refused to comment on the allegation. | The Sunday Times claimed Mr Khan's visits to him in jail in Milton Keynes in 2005 and 2006, were bugged by Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch. Scotland Yard has refused to comment on the allegation. |
| The prime minister knows nothing about this letter Downing Street spokeswoman Profile: Sadiq KhanFull text of David Davis letter | The prime minister knows nothing about this letter Downing Street spokeswoman Profile: Sadiq KhanFull text of David Davis letter |
| The bugging of MPs has been barred since eavesdropping scandals during Harold Wilson's government. | The bugging of MPs has been barred since eavesdropping scandals during Harold Wilson's government. |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he had no knowledge of the facts surrounding the Khan case but added: "It is completely unacceptable for an interview to be conducted by a MP on a constituent matter or in any other issue to be recorded." | Justice Secretary Jack Straw said he had no knowledge of the facts surrounding the Khan case but added: "It is completely unacceptable for an interview to be conducted by a MP on a constituent matter or in any other issue to be recorded." |
| The Commons home affairs committee is also investigating the claims as part of its wider inquiry into whether the UK is becoming a "surveillance society". | The Commons home affairs committee is also investigating the claims as part of its wider inquiry into whether the UK is becoming a "surveillance society". |
| I thought the only proper thing to do was to notify the prime minister in confidence, which is what I did David Davis | I thought the only proper thing to do was to notify the prime minister in confidence, which is what I did David Davis |
| The Conservatives have published a letter which they say Mr Davis sent to Gordon Brown on 11 December. It asks him whether the Wilson Doctrine - established in 1966 which states that MPs will not be bugged - is still in place. | The Conservatives have published a letter which they say Mr Davis sent to Gordon Brown on 11 December. It asks him whether the Wilson Doctrine - established in 1966 which states that MPs will not be bugged - is still in place. |
| 'Detailed check' | 'Detailed check' |
| The letter reads: "I have reason to believe that the policy has been breached in relations to communications between a constituent, arrested and detained as a terrorist suspect since 2003, and his member of Parliament." | The letter reads: "I have reason to believe that the policy has been breached in relations to communications between a constituent, arrested and detained as a terrorist suspect since 2003, and his member of Parliament." |
| "I would be grateful if you could review this serious matter and inform me of the outcome of your review." | "I would be grateful if you could review this serious matter and inform me of the outcome of your review." |
| HAVE YOUR SAYGiven the way some MPs act in this day and age I'd say it was about time the law was changed to allow bugging of their conversations.John ByngSend us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYGiven the way some MPs act in this day and age I'd say it was about time the law was changed to allow bugging of their conversations.John ByngSend us your comments |
| A spokeswoman for Downing Street said a number of letters from Mr Davis had been received since December on various issues. | A spokeswoman for Downing Street said a number of letters from Mr Davis had been received since December on various issues. |
| She added: "But having conducted a detailed check, we have no record of receiving a letter about the bugging of MPs. | She added: "But having conducted a detailed check, we have no record of receiving a letter about the bugging of MPs. |
| "Consequently the prime minister knows nothing about this letter." | "Consequently the prime minister knows nothing about this letter." |
| Relationship 'undermined' | Relationship 'undermined' |
| Mr Davis told the BBC he would be calling for a Commons statement on the issue on Monday and said it needed to be established who had made the decision. | Mr Davis told the BBC he would be calling for a Commons statement on the issue on Monday and said it needed to be established who had made the decision. |
| Mr Davis said he had heard about the bugging allegations from "a source" but added: "It was somebody who was concerned that the Wilson doctrine was being broken and I thought the only proper thing to do was to notify the prime minister in confidence, which is what I did. | Mr Davis said he had heard about the bugging allegations from "a source" but added: "It was somebody who was concerned that the Wilson doctrine was being broken and I thought the only proper thing to do was to notify the prime minister in confidence, which is what I did. |
| The US is trying to extradite Babar Ahmad | The US is trying to extradite Babar Ahmad |
| "I have to say I'm rather surprised that nothing has happened in the interim and indeed that the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, is claiming that this is some sort of surprise." | "I have to say I'm rather surprised that nothing has happened in the interim and indeed that the Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, is claiming that this is some sort of surprise." |
| Earlier Mr Khan, a government whip and Labour MP for Tooting, told the BBC he welcomed Mr Straw's announcement that there would be an inquiry, and said he did not know if the allegations that his visits were bugged were true. | |
| But he added: "If it was the case...that constituents were having their conversations with members of Parliament bugged, then it clearly means the whole relationship and the basis on which that relationship has been based for decades and, dare I say centuries, is undermined." | But he added: "If it was the case...that constituents were having their conversations with members of Parliament bugged, then it clearly means the whole relationship and the basis on which that relationship has been based for decades and, dare I say centuries, is undermined." |
| In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "We do not discuss matters of national security but recognise they are subject to proper scrutiny." | In a statement, the Metropolitan Police said: "We do not discuss matters of national security but recognise they are subject to proper scrutiny." |
| It said it would "encourage the use" of the independent Investigatory Powers Tribunal to investigate any complaints - and would "always would fully co-operate with the tribunal's work". | It said it would "encourage the use" of the independent Investigatory Powers Tribunal to investigate any complaints - and would "always would fully co-operate with the tribunal's work". |