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| Concerns over Speaker's inquiry | Concerns over Speaker's inquiry |
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| MPs have raised concerns about Commons Speaker Michael Martin's inquiry into how police were able to raid an MP's office and seize equipment. | MPs have raised concerns about Commons Speaker Michael Martin's inquiry into how police were able to raid an MP's office and seize equipment. |
| On Wednesday Mr Martin pledged a "speedy and immediate" inquiry but it has now emerged it may not begin until after the police leak inquiry ends. | On Wednesday Mr Martin pledged a "speedy and immediate" inquiry but it has now emerged it may not begin until after the police leak inquiry ends. |
| "It might not meet for months," shadow commons leader Theresa May told MPs. | "It might not meet for months," shadow commons leader Theresa May told MPs. |
| Commons leader Harriet Harman said it would not be "wise" to set up a probe while police inquiries continue. | Commons leader Harriet Harman said it would not be "wise" to set up a probe while police inquiries continue. |
| Meanwhile Home Secretary Jacqui Smith has been giving a statement to MPs on the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green and the search of his Parliamentary offices. | |
| She has reiterated that she did not know the arrest of an MP was pending and if she had, it would have been "wholly inappropriate" to get involved. | |
| But she was attacked by her Tory shadow Dominic Grieve who said that was "utterly flawed" and asked her: "Who is in charge of the police, if she isn't?" | |
| Mr Martin is coming under growing pressure after he admitted on Wednesday that police who raided Mr Green's office did not have a warrant. | |
| 'No resemblance' | 'No resemblance' |
| He pledged a "speedy" inquiry by a committee of MPs into what went wrong which he said would report back "as soon as possible". | He pledged a "speedy" inquiry by a committee of MPs into what went wrong which he said would report back "as soon as possible". |
| The issue dominated business questions at the Commons on Thursday with the Conservatives saying the government's suggested inquiry bore "no resemblance" to plans outlined by the Speaker. Lib Dem MP David Heath said the government was "taking the micky". | The issue dominated business questions at the Commons on Thursday with the Conservatives saying the government's suggested inquiry bore "no resemblance" to plans outlined by the Speaker. Lib Dem MP David Heath said the government was "taking the micky". |
| Ms May said a government motion setting up the committee suggested it would only begin work after any police inquiry was concluded and any criminal charges completed. | Ms May said a government motion setting up the committee suggested it would only begin work after any police inquiry was concluded and any criminal charges completed. |
| 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 |
| "In other words it might not meet for months," she told MPs. | "In other words it might not meet for months," she told MPs. |
| She also said an instruction that it would reflect the political balance of the Commons was wrong as it meant it would be "dominated by the government". | She also said an instruction that it would reflect the political balance of the Commons was wrong as it meant it would be "dominated by the government". |
| She also asked if other MPs' e-mails and files may have been searched when police accessed the Parliamentary server during the raid on Mr Green's office. | She also asked if other MPs' e-mails and files may have been searched when police accessed the Parliamentary server during the raid on Mr Green's office. |
| In response Ms Harman said the terms of the motion were "amendable" but added: "I don't think it's wise to set up a concurrent investigation when there's a police investigation underway." | In response Ms Harman said the terms of the motion were "amendable" but added: "I don't think it's wise to set up a concurrent investigation when there's a police investigation underway." |
| 'Whole House approach' | 'Whole House approach' |
| She said she wanted any debate to keep in mind four principles - to protect MPs in doing their job, to remember MPs were not above the law, to support the independence of the police and to support the neutrality of the civil service. | She said she wanted any debate to keep in mind four principles - to protect MPs in doing their job, to remember MPs were not above the law, to support the independence of the police and to support the neutrality of the civil service. |
| She was met with cries of "cover up" and "rubbish" from some MPs as she said it was important to get the balance right and support those principles. | She was met with cries of "cover up" and "rubbish" from some MPs as she said it was important to get the balance right and support those principles. |
| "What we need is a cross party, whole House approach on these issues and not a party political divide," Ms Harman said. | "What we need is a cross party, whole House approach on these issues and not a party political divide," Ms Harman said. |
| Harriet Harman: "It's not my responsibility to choose the Speaker" | Harriet Harman: "It's not my responsibility to choose the Speaker" |
| The Speaker has said there will be a debate on the issues around Mr Green's arrest next Monday. | The Speaker has said there will be a debate on the issues around Mr Green's arrest next Monday. |
| But the Conservatives say at three hours, it is not long enough and there should be a full day's debate. | But the Conservatives say at three hours, it is not long enough and there should be a full day's debate. |
| Some MPs have openly called for him to go and Ms Harman refused to say on the BBC's Newsnight that she had confidence in him. | Some MPs have openly called for him to go and Ms 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. | But housing minister Margaret Beckett told the BBC that she thought Mr Martin had shown "dignity" in his statement. |
| 'Wise after event' | 'Wise after event' |
| Mrs Beckett, a former leader of the Commons, 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. | Mrs Beckett, a former leader of the Commons, 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. |
| And she added: "What was unfortunate about yesterday is that there are obviously a lot of people who are looking around, as so often in these affairs, for somebody to blame. Anybody, by the way, apart from the person who may be accused of doing something wrong." | And she added: "What was unfortunate about yesterday is that there are obviously a lot of people who are looking around, as so often in these affairs, for somebody to blame. Anybody, by the way, apart from the person who may be accused of doing something wrong." |
| Mr Martin said on Wednesday he had "regrets" over the fact police were allowed to search Mr Green's office with no warrant as part of a Home Office leak inquiry. | Mr Martin said on Wednesday he had "regrets" over the fact police were allowed to search Mr Green's office with no warrant as part of a Home Office leak inquiry. |
| On Wednesday Conservative MP Richard Bacon said the Speaker should resign, given that he had "failed in his fundamental duty to protect Parliament". | On Wednesday Conservative MP Richard Bacon said the Speaker should resign, given that he had "failed in his fundamental duty to protect Parliament". |
| FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme | FROM THE TODAY PROGRAMME More from Today programme |
| 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". | 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." | He added: "The Conservative MPs in Damian Green's office - they didn't ask for a warrant when the police turned up." |
| 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". |
| 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. |