Tory MP arrested over leaks
A Tory frontbencher was answering police questions last night after being arrested as part of a leak inquiry.
Damian Green, the Shadow Immigration Minister, was arrested in Kent yesterday, as counter-terrorism officers searched his home, constituency and Commons office. He may be charged for receiving documents allegedly passed by a male Home Office official who was also arrested.
Conservative sources said that David Cameron was furious about the treatment of one of his team and described the arrest as “Stalinesqueâ€. George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, said the police had some “very big questions†to answer over the arrest.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister insisted that Gordon Brown had “no prior knowledge†of the arrest.
The Conservative Party said: “We can confirm that Damian Green was arrested in connection with his work as opposition spokesman for immigration. Mr Green was arrested in Kent and taken for questioning at a Central London police station.†It also confirmed that Metropolitan Police officers searched his home, parliamentary office and constituency office.
“As Shadow Immigration Minister, Mr Green has, on a number of occasions, legitimately revealed information, which the Home Office chose not to make public. Disclosure of this information was manifestly in the public interest. Mr Green denies any wrongdoing,†it added.
The Metropolitan Police said: “A 52-year-old man was arrested in Kent shortly before 1400 today. The man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office and aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office.â€
The official connected to Mr Green’s arrest acted as cover for absent staff in the private offices of Home Office ministers. It is understood that he was arrested at work at the start of last week.
Mr Green, the MP for Ashford and a former television producer, is facing questions about four leaks to the media between November last year and September this year. They include a letter from the Home Secretary, to the Prime Minister over the likely effects of the economic downturn on crime. It is understood that the Home Office and rest of Whitehall were alarmed at this disclosure because it was circulated among so few people within the department.
Other damaging stories include a list, prepared by Labour whips, of MPs’ likely voting intentions on legislation to extend to 42 days detention without charge.
Tory sources said Mr Cameron supported Mr Green fully and was confident that he had not paid for the documents. The arrest is certain to start a political row over who in government knew about or sanctioned action against a Tory frontbencher.
“There must be questions over whether this was choreographed,†a party source said. “The arrest was carried out when the Commons was not sitting and therefore there was no chance to raise this with the Speaker.â€
It was unlikely to be a coincidence that the arrest happened on Sir Ian Blair’s last day in charge of the Met.
Sources close to the Shadow Cabinet suggested that an investigation into such a senior politician would have been cleared “at the very topâ€.
Mr Green was released last night and bailed to return to the police station in February.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5248278.ece
A Tory frontbencher was answering police questions last night after being arrested as part of a leak inquiry.
Damian Green, the Shadow Immigration Minister, was arrested in Kent yesterday, as counter-terrorism officers searched his home, constituency and Commons office. He may be charged for receiving documents allegedly passed by a male Home Office official who was also arrested.
Conservative sources said that David Cameron was furious about the treatment of one of his team and described the arrest as “Stalinesqueâ€. George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, said the police had some “very big questions†to answer over the arrest.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister insisted that Gordon Brown had “no prior knowledge†of the arrest.
The Conservative Party said: “We can confirm that Damian Green was arrested in connection with his work as opposition spokesman for immigration. Mr Green was arrested in Kent and taken for questioning at a Central London police station.†It also confirmed that Metropolitan Police officers searched his home, parliamentary office and constituency office.
“As Shadow Immigration Minister, Mr Green has, on a number of occasions, legitimately revealed information, which the Home Office chose not to make public. Disclosure of this information was manifestly in the public interest. Mr Green denies any wrongdoing,†it added.
The Metropolitan Police said: “A 52-year-old man was arrested in Kent shortly before 1400 today. The man has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office and aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office.â€
The official connected to Mr Green’s arrest acted as cover for absent staff in the private offices of Home Office ministers. It is understood that he was arrested at work at the start of last week.
Mr Green, the MP for Ashford and a former television producer, is facing questions about four leaks to the media between November last year and September this year. They include a letter from the Home Secretary, to the Prime Minister over the likely effects of the economic downturn on crime. It is understood that the Home Office and rest of Whitehall were alarmed at this disclosure because it was circulated among so few people within the department.
Other damaging stories include a list, prepared by Labour whips, of MPs’ likely voting intentions on legislation to extend to 42 days detention without charge.
Tory sources said Mr Cameron supported Mr Green fully and was confident that he had not paid for the documents. The arrest is certain to start a political row over who in government knew about or sanctioned action against a Tory frontbencher.
“There must be questions over whether this was choreographed,†a party source said. “The arrest was carried out when the Commons was not sitting and therefore there was no chance to raise this with the Speaker.â€
It was unlikely to be a coincidence that the arrest happened on Sir Ian Blair’s last day in charge of the Met.
Sources close to the Shadow Cabinet suggested that an investigation into such a senior politician would have been cleared “at the very topâ€.
Mr Green was released last night and bailed to return to the police station in February.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5248278.ece
