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Tories warn of leaks 'stitch-up' Cameron and Clegg in 'leak talks'
(about 4 hours later)
The Conservatives have voiced anger at being excluded from talks on Wednesday over the Damian Green leak row. David Cameron and Nick Clegg plan to meet to discuss plans to try to force a Commons debate on the row over Damian Green's arrest, the BBC understands.
Leader David Cameron warned of a possible "stitch-up" after receiving an e-mail on planned meeting between ministers and Commons officials. The Commons Speaker is to make a statement on Wednesday about the way police were able to search Mr Green's parliamentary office.
He said all parties should be present at the talks to discuss the arrest of Tory immigration spokesman Mr Green, and the police search of his office. Many MPs are angry that he allowed police officers to enter Parliament.
Labour said the meeting was merely about parliamentary procedure. The BBC's Norman Smith said several Tory MPs were considering trying to force Michael Martin's resignation.
Mr Green was arrested on Thursday and held for nine hours on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office in relation to an inquiry into leaks from the Home Office. This is a completely improper meeting convened by the government privately with the Commons authorities and senior civil servants Dominic Grieve, shadow home secretary Parliamentary tactics
MPs have expressed misgivings about how police were allowed to enter Parliament to search Mr Green's office. He said they were looking at securing enough signatures on an early day motion expressing no confidence in the Speaker but would not take any action until they had heard his statement.
These concerns have prompted the Commons Speaker Michael Martin to promise a statement on the matter on Wednesday. The BBC understands Mr Cameron may meet his Lib Dem counterpart Mr Clegg to "discuss tactics" ahead of Wednesday's statement as they seek to secure a debate on the issue.
'Stitch-up' Many MPs have expressed misgivings about how police were allowed to enter Parliament to search Mr Green's office, arguing that the Speaker should have stopped them.
But the Conservatives say the e-mail - mistakenly sent to one of the party's officials - showed ministers were seeking to "stitch up" a story about the background to the police action ahead of the statement.
The document reportedly shows Commons leader Harriet Harman asking Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Justice Secretary Jack Straw and Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell to meet the clerk to the Commons and the sergeant at arms to discuss the "arrangements of the Queen's Speech and considerations in advance of the Speaker's statement on Police Action and Parliament".
The Tories say ministers are trying to "manage" the statement.
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"This is a completely improper meeting convened by the government privately with the Commons authorities and senior civil servants," said shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve. Mr Green was arrested on Thursday and held for nine hours on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office in relation to an inquiry into leaks from the Home Office.
Conservative leader David Cameron said a meeting of the sort being proposed would "not be right" and all parties should be present. Former shadow home secretary David Davis said MPs were "bubbling with indignation about what is going on and will want to debate it".
But a spokesman for Ms Harman said the meeting had "nothing to do with the contents" of the statement. Some MPs had considered a protest during Wednesday's Queen's Speech, when the government's legislative programme for the next Parliament will be unveiled, but have ruled this out because they fear it would be seen as a protest against the monarchy.
As the row continues, the Tories say they are being excluded from a meeting between ministers and parliamentary officials about the row on Tuesday.
'Stitch-up'
Mr Cameron warned of a possible "stitch-up" after receiving an e-mail on Tuesday's planned meeting, reportedly set to involve Commons leader Harriet Harman and Home Secretary Jacqui Smith.
He said all parties should be present at the talks which the Tories suggest will see the arrest of their immigration spokesman Mr Green, and the police search of his Westminster office discussed.
The Conservatives say the e-mail - mistakenly sent to one of the party's officials - showed ministers were seeking to "stitch up" a story about the background to the police action before the statement.
But Labour insist the meeting is about procedure not the statement's content and it is understood that several of those reportedly invited, including the home secretary and Cabinet Secretary Gus O'Donnell, will not be attending.
A spokesman for Ms Harman said the meeting had "nothing to do with the contents" of the statement.
"The content of the Speaker's statement is entirely a matter for the Speaker," he said."The content of the Speaker's statement is entirely a matter for the Speaker," he said.
"The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the parliamentary business and handling of issues that arise from the fact that the Speaker's statement and the Queen's Speech will be happening on the same day.""The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the parliamentary business and handling of issues that arise from the fact that the Speaker's statement and the Queen's Speech will be happening on the same day."
'Bad blood''Bad blood'
However, BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said: "Harriet Harman details in the e-mail several principles she sees as vital, including that MPs must be able to do their work and that they are not above the law; matters that would appear to be central to the issues the speaker must discuss."However, BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti said: "Harriet Harman details in the e-mail several principles she sees as vital, including that MPs must be able to do their work and that they are not above the law; matters that would appear to be central to the issues the speaker must discuss."
Ms Harman has previously said she is "very concerned" by Mr Green's arrest and understands MPs' anger at the way police officers raided his parliamentary and constituency bases.Ms Harman has previously said she is "very concerned" by Mr Green's arrest and understands MPs' anger at the way police officers raided his parliamentary and constituency bases.
She has suggested protection for MPs' offices must be reviewed in light of the episode.She has suggested protection for MPs' offices must be reviewed in light of the episode.
Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey, a member of the Commons Commission which runs the House, said he had not been consulted on whether the police should be allowed to carry out a search on the premises.Lib Dem MP Nick Harvey, a member of the Commons Commission which runs the House, said he had not been consulted on whether the police should be allowed to carry out a search on the premises.
"I do not think any other members were either," he added."I do not think any other members were either," he added.
But he said he believed the Speaker would have taken legal and other advice before making a decision.But he said he believed the Speaker would have taken legal and other advice before making a decision.
The home secretary has defended the police's operational independence and insisted that she was not informed about the arrest in advance. The home secretary has defended the police's operational independence and insisted that she was not informed about Mr Green's arrest in advance.
Some MPs have threatened to mount a protest over the issue on Wednesday, the day the government will unveil its legislative programme for the next parliament in the Queen's Speech.