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MPs debating police Commons raid MPs' anger at police raid debate
(30 minutes later)
MPs have begun debating the police raid on Tory MP Damian Green's House of Commons office, amid concern about the role played by the Speaker. Ministers have been accused of clamping down on debate about a police raid on and seizure of material from Tory MP Damian Green's Commons office.
The debate began with a row over how long it should take. The government has allowed three hours but the Tories and Lib Dems say it should be six. The debate began with a row over how long it should take. The Tories and Lib Dems failed to get the three-hour debate extended to six.
They want changes to ministers' plans for a Commons inquiry into the affair.They want changes to ministers' plans for a Commons inquiry into the affair.
Former Tory minister Douglas Hogg began by accusing ministers of "concealment, duplicity, whitewash and cover-up".Former Tory minister Douglas Hogg began by accusing ministers of "concealment, duplicity, whitewash and cover-up".
Amid angry exchanges, Tory backbencher Sir Nicholas Winterton told MPs: "Even in Zimbabwe on the 26th January 1982, when Mr Mugabe's police wished to arrest a member of that Parliament, they did not, could not and would not enter the House of Commons in Harare."
'Pantomime'
For the Lib Dems, Simon Hughes said it was a "sorry state of affairs" if MPs were not given enough time to debate whether police should enter Parliament.For the Lib Dems, Simon Hughes said it was a "sorry state of affairs" if MPs were not given enough time to debate whether police should enter Parliament.
"This is the government trying to clamp down on the House of Commons having its say," he said."This is the government trying to clamp down on the House of Commons having its say," he said.
But Labour backbencher Frank Field said the debate was descending into a "pantomime" and MPs would be judged, not on the debate, but how they voted. But deputy Commons leader Chris Bryant insisted three hours was adequate to debate the issues thrown up by the affair, which had already been discussed in debates last week.
The row erupted after Mr Green, the Tory immigration spokesman, was arrested 10 days ago and held for nine hours by the Metropolitan Police, while his homes and parliamentary office were searched, as part of an inquiry into allegations of leaks from the Home Office. Labour backbencher Frank Field said the debate was descending into a "pantomime" and MPs would be judged, not on the debate, but how they voted.
But I do think MPs will be making a big mistake if they somehow suggest to people that just by sticking a knife in the Speaker's back everything is sorted Nick CleggLib Dem leader "For us, clearly, it's high drama. To most of our constituents it's already descended into farce - and we should actually get ... on with the business of the House."
However another Labour MP Bob Marshall-Andrews said the reason Labour benches were packed was because they were on a "thinly disguised three-line whip" which he said was "wholly inappropriate".
The government won an early vote on how long the debate should take by 308 votes to 234.
The row erupted after Mr Green, the Tory immigration spokesman, was arrested 10 days ago and held for nine hours by the Metropolitan Police.
Constitutional principles
His homes and parliamentary office were searched, as part of an inquiry into allegations of leaks from the Home Office.
MPs were angry police had been allowed to enter the Commons, without a warrant - something Speaker Michael Martin has already said he regrets.
MPs are now debating the form of a Commons inquiry, announced by last week - amid anger among the opposition parties that it will be dominated by Labour MPs and will not start work until after the police inquiry is completed.
Commons leader Harriet Harman said a Parliamentary inquiry into the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green, and the search of his Commons office, would look at whether MPs' papers were "properly protected", what led up to the police search and whether "important constitutional principles were properly protected".
Ms Harman said it was important to avoid any perception the inquiry was "breathing down the polices' neck" or prejudice any future court proceedings.
She said the inquiry would fall "on the same territory as the current police investigation".
The Speaker had to intervene to remind MPs of the need for "moderate language" as one MP accused Ms Harman of "weasel words".
Mr Martin revealed to MPs last Wednesday that he had been told in advance the search of Mr Green's office was to take place, but said he had not been told by Serjeant at Arms Jill Pay, who authorised the search, that the police had not had a search warrant.Mr Martin revealed to MPs last Wednesday that he had been told in advance the search of Mr Green's office was to take place, but said he had not been told by Serjeant at Arms Jill Pay, who authorised the search, that the police had not had a search warrant.
The debate is to discuss plans for the proposed Speaker's committee to look into the issues raised by - and the rules covering - the police search of Mr Green's Commons offices. The Conservative leader David Cameron has said that if his party fail to get changes to the inquiry proposals they will vote against the plans.
Mr Martin told MPs last week the committee would report quickly, but opposition MPs are unhappy at plans for it to have a Labour majority - and the suggestion that it would not start work until after the police inquiry is completed.
'Big mistake'
The debate is scheduled to last for three hours although some MPs are trying to force a vote on extending the debate to six hours.
Conservative leader David Cameron has said that if his party fail to get changes to the inquiry proposals they will vote against the plans.
The Liberal Democrats have said they will boycott the Speaker's committee, as currently set up, but leader Nick Clegg has stopped short of calling for Mr Martin to quit.The Liberal Democrats have said they will boycott the Speaker's committee, as currently set up, but leader Nick Clegg has stopped short of calling for Mr Martin to quit.
Leader Nick Clegg told BBC 5 Live: "People's confidence in him has taken a massive battering and with very good reason because he is responsible for the people who took the decision to allow the police - without a warrant - to search Damian Green's office, and clearly he has got a lot of work to do to re-establish the trust and confidence without which he really can't do his job.
"But I do think MPs will be making a big mistake if they somehow suggest to people that just by sticking a knife in the Speaker's back everything is sorted."