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Straw 'not told' of bugging claim Straw 'not told' of bugging claim
(about 21 hours later)
Ministry of Justice officials were told on 14 December about allegations that Labour MP Sadiq Khan had been bugged, an internal investigation has revealed. Jack Straw has told MPs he was not informed about allegations Labour MP Sadiq Khan had been bugged when his officials were told in December.
They and Justice Secretary Jack Straw's special adviser were told of press interest - but Mr Straw was not told. Mr Straw said he was informed of press interest in a prison visit by Mr Khan but not claims the visit was bugged.
He was only informed there was a story about Mr Khan and Woodhill Prison, and assumed it was a political smear. The Tories say Mr Straw's statement raised questions about the way the Justice department was being run.
An inquiry has begun after claims at the weekend that Mr Khan's visits to a jailed constituent were bugged. An inquiry is probing claims Mr Khan's visits to Woodhill prison, in Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, were bugged.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Straw was not told about the allegations that conversations between Mr Khan and Babar Ahmad had been bugged.
Wilson Doctrine
He said that privately officials admit that alarm bells should have sounded when they had a press enquiry about the bugging of a conversation involving an MP.
Mr Khan, who made his name as a human rights lawyer before becoming an MP, visited his constituent and childhood friend Babar Ahmad in prison in 2005 and 2006.Mr Khan, who made his name as a human rights lawyer before becoming an MP, visited his constituent and childhood friend Babar Ahmad in prison in 2005 and 2006.
If true, this is frankly extraordinary and raises enormous questions about the leadership of this department David Davis The Sunday Times claims counter-terrorism officers secretly recorded the discussions - Mr Ahmad is awaiting extradition to the US which accuses him of running websites supporting terrorism, but faces no charges in the UK.
The Sunday Times claimed counter-terrorism officers secretly recorded the discussions - Mr Ahmad is awaiting extradition to the US which accuses him of running websites supporting terrorism, but faces no charges in the UK. Wilson doctrine
A 40-year-old code known as the Wilson Doctrine forbids - or was thought to forbid - the covert recording of conversations between MPs and their constituents. BBC Political Editor Nick Robinson said that privately officials admit that alarm bells should have sounded when they had a press enquiry about the bugging of a conversation involving an MP.
The Tories said the alleged bugging of Mr Khan was a breach of the spirit of the Wilson Doctrine and called on ministers to clarify the legal position. There appears to be no control of the Ministry of Justice and MPs have been given partial information Nick Herbert, shadow justice secretary
Ex-officer's claims In a brief statement to the Commons on Tuesday evening, Mr Straw said he was not told about the allegations by his officials.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the latest disclosure also raised fresh questions about Mr Straw's leadership of the Ministry of Justice. "I was aware, in December, of press inquiries from a newspaper concerning visits by my honourable friend the Member for Tooting (Mr Khan) to Babar Ahmed, but at no stage before last Saturday was I aware of any information that the press inquiries concerned any covert recording or anything like that," Mr Straw told MPs.
"On the one hand, we are told Jack Straw has been briefed by his officials on press inquiries relating to Sadiq Khan's visits to HMP Woodhill yet, despite his officials knowing of the allegations of bugging, they still failed to brief him on these," he said. He added that there were a "wide range of other questions about this matter," which would be the subject of the inquiry he announced to MPs on Monday.
Jack Straw must come before the House as soon as possible and explain exactly what has been going on in his department David HeathLib Dems Shadow Justice Secretary Nick Herbert called on Mr Straw to make a further Commons statement "clarifying what he knew and when, and to provide any further information which he omitted to reveal yesterday (Tuesday)".
"If true, this is frankly extraordinary and raises enormous questions about the leadership of this department." Mr Herbert asked why Mr Straw had not told MPs earlier that he had "known for some time there was an issue relating to Sadiq Khan and if officials knew about the covert recording, why did they not inform him earlier?".
He added: "There appears to be no control of the Ministry of Justice and MPs have been given partial information."
Mr Straw has ordered an inquiry into the alleged breaking of a 40-year-old convention known as the Wilson Doctrine, which forbids - or was thought to forbid - the covert recording of conversations between MPs and their constituents.
Shadow Home Secretary David Davis said confusion over the Wilson doctrine had undermined Prime Minister Gordon Brown's assurances last year that it would be upheld.
Life 'at risk'
Liberal Democrat justice spokesman David Heath said: "Jack Straw must come before the House as soon as possible and explain exactly what has been going on in his department."Liberal Democrat justice spokesman David Heath said: "Jack Straw must come before the House as soon as possible and explain exactly what has been going on in his department."
Meanwhile, the ex-police officer who claims he bugged Mr Khan's visit to Mr Ahmad says his life is "at risk" after the case was leaked to the media.Meanwhile, the ex-police officer who claims he bugged Mr Khan's visit to Mr Ahmad says his life is "at risk" after the case was leaked to the media.
Mark Kearney, a former police intelligence officer at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, claimed the Met Police put him under "significant pressure" to bug Mr Khan.Mark Kearney, a former police intelligence officer at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, claimed the Met Police put him under "significant pressure" to bug Mr Khan.
He faces charges - unrelated to the bugging claims - of leaking information to a local newspaper.He faces charges - unrelated to the bugging claims - of leaking information to a local newspaper.
Mr Straw announced on Monday that Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Christopher Rose is to head an inquiry into the allegations.Mr Straw announced on Monday that Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Christopher Rose is to head an inquiry into the allegations.
He said Sir Christopher, a former Court of Appeal judge, would try to find out under whose authority any bugging was carried out and would present his findings within two weeks.He said Sir Christopher, a former Court of Appeal judge, would try to find out under whose authority any bugging was carried out and would present his findings within two weeks.