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| Version 4 | Version 5 |
|---|---|
| Tory anger about 'leak meeting' | Tory anger about 'leak meeting' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| The Tories have accused ministers of seeking to exert influence over the Commons speaker ahead of his statement about the Damian Green leak row. | The Tories have accused ministers of seeking to exert influence over the Commons speaker ahead of his statement about the Damian Green leak row. |
| They say a leaked e-mail shows Commons leader Harriet Harman inviting Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to discuss the statement with parliamentary officials. | They say a leaked e-mail shows Commons leader Harriet Harman inviting Home Secretary Jacqui Smith to discuss the statement with parliamentary officials. |
| Labour said the meeting did not concern the statement at all and was merely about parliamentary business. | Labour said the meeting did not concern the statement at all and was merely about parliamentary business. |
| Many MPs are angry that police could search Mr Green's Commons office. | |
| Mr Green, the shadow immigration minister, was arrested on Thursday and held for nine hours on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office in relation to an inquiry into leaks from the Home Office. | Mr Green, the shadow immigration minister, was arrested on Thursday and held for nine hours on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office in relation to an inquiry into leaks from the Home Office. |
| The solicitor for the civil servant accused of leaking information to the MP said on Monday that he did it because it was material that was "important for the public to know". | The solicitor for the civil servant accused of leaking information to the MP said on Monday that he did it because it was material that was "important for the public to know". |
| Neither 26-year old Home Office official Christopher Galley nor Mr Green have been charged with any offence. Mr Green denies any wrongdoing, saying he was just doing his job holding the government to account. This is a completely improper meeting convened by the government privately with the Commons authorities and senior civil servants Dominic Grieve, shadow home secretary | Neither 26-year old Home Office official Christopher Galley nor Mr Green have been charged with any offence. Mr Green denies any wrongdoing, saying he was just doing his job holding the government to account. This is a completely improper meeting convened by the government privately with the Commons authorities and senior civil servants Dominic Grieve, shadow home secretary |
| The leak inquiry and the police handling of the investigation has sparked a fierce political row with opposition leaders and some Labour MPs expressing concerns about how Mr Green was treated. | The leak inquiry and the police handling of the investigation has sparked a fierce political row with opposition leaders and some Labour MPs expressing concerns about how Mr Green was treated. |
| Many MPs have expressed misgivings about how police were allowed to enter Parliament to search Mr Green's office, concerns which have prompted the Commons Speaker Michael Martin to promise a statement on the matter on Wednesday. | |
| 'Stitch-up' | 'Stitch-up' |
| But the Tories say that a leaked e-mail shows that ministers are seeking to "stitch up" a story about the background to the police action ahead of Wednesday's statement. | But the Tories say that a leaked e-mail shows that ministers are seeking to "stitch up" a story about the background to the police action ahead of Wednesday's statement. |
| The e-mail, the Tories claim, shows Commons leader Harriet Harman asking Ms 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 e-mail, the Tories claim, shows Commons leader Harriet Harman asking Ms 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 the meeting is designed to "manage" the statement. | The Tories say the meeting is designed to "manage" the statement. |
| The content of the speaker's statement is entirely a matter for the speaker Labour spokesman | The content of the speaker's statement is entirely a matter for the speaker Labour spokesman |
| "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. | "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. |
| "This is precisely the sort of leak that should make it into the public domain." | "This is precisely the sort of leak that should make it into the public domain." |
| Speaking later, opposition leader David Cameron said a meeting of the sort being proposed would "not be right" and "all parties" should be present to discuss the issues involved. | Speaking later, opposition leader David Cameron said a meeting of the sort being proposed would "not be right" and "all parties" should be present to discuss the issues involved. |
| But a spokesman for Ms Harman said the meeting had "nothing to do with the contents" of the statement. | But 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' |
| 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 the arrest in advance. |
| Some MPs believe the Speaker has some explaining to do | Some MPs believe the Speaker has some explaining to do |
| Ms Harman has previously said she was "very concerned" by Mr Green's arrest and understood MPs' anger at the way police officers had raided his Parliamentary and constituency bases. | Ms Harman has previously said she was "very concerned" by Mr Green's arrest and understood MPs' anger at the way police officers had 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. |
| Some MPs have threatened to mount a high-profile protest over the issue on Wednesday, the day the government will unveil its legislative programme for the next parliament in the Queen's Speech. | Some MPs have threatened to mount a high-profile protest over the issue on Wednesday, the day the government will unveil its legislative programme for the next parliament in the Queen's Speech. |
| The BBC's Reeta Chakrabarti said the row over the leaked e-mail showed the degree of bad blood between the parties over the row. | The BBC's Reeta Chakrabarti said the row over the leaked e-mail showed the degree of bad blood between the parties over the row. |