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| Speaker facing growing pressure | |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| Commons Speaker Michael Martin is coming under growing pressure after admitting police who raided an MP's office did not have a warrant. | |
| Some MPs have openly called for him to go and Commons leader Harriet Harman refused to say on the BBC's Newsnight that she had confidence in him. | |
| But housing minister Margaret Beckett told the BBC that she thought Mr Martin had shown "dignity" in his statement. | |
| And she said Ms Harman was right not to answer questions about her view of him. | |
| Mrs Beckett told BBC Radio 4's Today that the Speaker represented all MPs - rather than the government - so it would be wrong for a government minister to comment on the performance of whoever held that job. | |
| Mr Martin said on Wednesday he had "regrets" over the fact police were allowed to search shadow immigration minister Damian Green's office with no warrant as part of a Home Office leak inquiry. | |
| Following his statement to MPs, Commons leader Harriet Harman was asked a number of times on the BBC's Newsnight programme to say she still had confidence in him. | |
| Ms Harman said: "I am not saying I have got full confidence in anything or anybody." | |
| I have no confidence in the Speaker's willingness or ability to defend Parliament or me as an MP, so that I can defend the interests of my constituents Richard Bacon MP Profile: Michael MartinIn quotes: Speaker's statementNick Robinson on the day's events | I have no confidence in the Speaker's willingness or ability to defend Parliament or me as an MP, so that I can defend the interests of my constituents Richard Bacon MP Profile: Michael MartinIn quotes: Speaker's statementNick Robinson on the day's events |
| Ms Harman said it was her responsibility to support the Speaker and his officials, and to uphold key principles such as protecting the rights of MPs to conduct their business without unwarranted interference. | Ms Harman said it was her responsibility to support the Speaker and his officials, and to uphold key principles such as protecting the rights of MPs to conduct their business without unwarranted interference. |
| She later denied she had said she had no confidence in Mr Martin, adding "It's not a question; there is no vote of confidence in the Speaker." | She later denied she had said she had no confidence in Mr Martin, adding "It's not a question; there is no vote of confidence in the Speaker." |
| But one Conservative MP said the Speaker should resign, given that he had "failed in his fundamental duty to protect Parliament". | But one Conservative MP said the Speaker should resign, given that he had "failed in his fundamental duty to protect Parliament". |
| "I have no confidence in the Speaker's willingness or ability to defend Parliament or me as an MP, so that I can defend the interests of my constituents," Richard Bacon said. | "I have no confidence in the Speaker's willingness or ability to defend Parliament or me as an MP, so that I can defend the interests of my constituents," Richard Bacon said. |
| "He has to go. It is that simple." | "He has to go. It is that simple." |
| Conservative home affairs spokesman Dominic Grieve told Newsnight he had "confidence in the Speaker's good intentions" but described the current situation as a "fiasco". | Conservative home affairs spokesman Dominic Grieve told Newsnight he had "confidence in the Speaker's good intentions" but described the current situation as a "fiasco". |
| He said the Speaker should be not be forced out, saying the focus should be on "putting right what has been done wrong" and reasserting the rights of Parliament. | He said the Speaker should be not be forced out, saying the focus should be on "putting right what has been done wrong" and reasserting the rights of Parliament. |
| Search consent | Search consent |
| Labour MP Stephen Pound backed Mr Martin and Serjeant at Arms Jill Pay "absolutely" to remain in their jobs telling BBC Radio 4's Today programme the Speaker's critics were being "wise after the event". | |
| He added: "The Conservative MPs in Damian Green's office - they didn't ask for a warrant when the police turned up." | |
| Mr Martin told MPs on Wednesday that he knew in advance about the search of Mr Green's office but was not told that the police did not have a warrant. | Mr Martin told MPs on Wednesday that he knew in advance about the search of Mr Green's office but was not told that the police did not have a warrant. |
| He has referred this issue to be investigated by a committee of senior MPs and promised that, in future, a warrant would be required before searches were carried out on Commons property. | He has referred this issue to be investigated by a committee of senior MPs and promised that, in future, a warrant would be required before searches were carried out on Commons property. |
| "Every case must be referred for my personal decision, as it is my responsibility," he added. | "Every case must be referred for my personal decision, as it is my responsibility," he added. |
| Items including computer files were confiscated during raids on all Mr Green's homes and offices last Thursday. | Items including computer files were confiscated during raids on all Mr Green's homes and offices last Thursday. |
| After the news broke last week that four addresses had been raided, Scotland Yard said it had had warrants for all of them. | After the news broke last week that four addresses had been raided, Scotland Yard said it had had warrants for all of them. |
| But, shortly before the Speaker's statement, acting Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson revised the detail, saying just three warrants had been issued, while the Commons search had been "consensual". | But, shortly before the Speaker's statement, acting Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson revised the detail, saying just three warrants had been issued, while the Commons search had been "consensual". |
| When asked about this, a Scotland Yard spokesman said there had been "no deliberate attempt to mislead". | When asked about this, a Scotland Yard spokesman said there had been "no deliberate attempt to mislead". |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| A separate police source added that if the official who signed the consent form for the raid - Serjeant at Arms Jill Pay - had not known police could be refused permission to enter, it would be "surprising". | A separate police source added that if the official who signed the consent form for the raid - Serjeant at Arms Jill Pay - had not known police could be refused permission to enter, it would be "surprising". |
| Mr Green, shadow immigration minister, was arrested and held for nine hours last Thursday as part of a police inquiry into Home Office leaks. | Mr Green, shadow immigration minister, was arrested and held for nine hours last Thursday as part of a police inquiry into Home Office leaks. |
| Many MPs have expressed outrage, saying that their independence has been compromised. | Many MPs have expressed outrage, saying that their independence has been compromised. |
| Mr Green was held on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office and on suspicion of aiding and abetting misconduct in public office. The MP denies any wrongdoing. | Mr Green was held on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office and on suspicion of aiding and abetting misconduct in public office. The MP denies any wrongdoing. |
| Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is to make a statement to the Commons on the arrest of Mr Green. She has already insisted she was right not to interfere in the police inquiry. Her statement is expected at about 1130 GMT. |