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Talks in Green case anger Tories Tories warn of leaks 'stitch-up'
(10 minutes later)
The Conservatives have voiced anger at being excluded from talks on Wednesday over the Damian Green leak row.The Conservatives have voiced anger at being excluded from talks on Wednesday over the Damian Green leak row.
Party leader David Cameron warned of a possible "stitch up" after receiving a leaked e-mail on planned talks between ministers and Commons officials. Party leader David Cameron warned of a possible "stitch-up" after receiving a leaked e-mail on planned talks between ministers and Commons officials.
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.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.
Labour said the meeting was merely about parliamentary business.Labour said the meeting was merely about parliamentary business.
Many MPs are angry that police were able to search Mr Green's Commons office. 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
He 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 MPs have expressed misgivings about how police were allowed to enter Parliament to search Mr Green's office.
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. These concerns have prompted the Commons Speaker Michael Martin to promise a statement on the matter on Wednesday.
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 the 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 Conservatives say the leaked e-mail showed ministers were seeking to "stitch up" a story about the background to the police action ahead of the 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 document, the Tories claim, 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 the meeting is designed to "manage" the statement. The Tories say ministers are trying to "manage" the statement.
The content of the speaker's statement is entirely a matter for the speaker Labour spokesmanThe 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. Conservative leader David Cameron said a meeting of the sort being proposed would "not be right" and all parties should be present.
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'
However, BBC political correspondent Reeta Chakrabarti says: "Harriet Harman details in the e-mail several principals 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."
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 doSome 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.
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.
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.