Ministers have been accused of trying to "stymie" a Commons inquiry into a police raid on a Tory MP's office as part of a probe into Home Office leaks.
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have said they will not take part in a Commons inquiry into the police raid on MP Damian Green's parliamentary office.
Government plans were an attempt "delay its work until the controversy has blown over", Tory Theresa May told MPs.
The government won a close vote to set up a committee dominated by Labour MPs, which would not begin work until after the police investigation finished.
The Lib Dems accused the government of trying to "tie the hands" of the committee "for an indefinite period".
The Lib Dems denounced the inquiry as a "nonsense", while the Tories warned it should not be "party political".
Commons leader Harriet Harman said any inquiry had to avoid the perception it was "breathing down the police's neck".
A cross-party motion to change the committee's remit failed by four votes.
MPs are debating the arrest of shadow immigration minister Damian Green and a police raid on his Commons office, and seizure of some material during an inquiry into leaks.
Suggested by former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell, the amendment would have allowed the inquiry to go ahead without waiting for the completion of any police inquiry or proceedings.
'Whitewash' attack
After this failed, a government motion to set up an MPs' committee in accordance with the make-up of the Commons - which has a Labour majority - and not start work until the police inquiry is over, passed by 23 votes.
In angry exchanges at the start of the debate, the Conservative former minister Douglas Hogg accused the government of "concealment, duplicity, whitewash and cover-up".
'Should meet now'
The Tories and Lib Dems pushed to make the debate, scheduled for three hours, six hours long, but were defeated by the government.
For the Tories, shadow Commons leader Theresa May said: "We feel not able to recommend to members of our party that they serve on this committee which we believe so blatantly flies in the face of the desire that you had about the nature of the committee, the fact that it should not be party political, and that it should meet now and conduct its inquiries now."
Lib Dem spokesman Simon Hughes said it was a case of the "government trying to clamp down on the House of Commons having its say".
Lib Dem business spokesman Simon Hughes said: "We do not feel we can recommend to our colleagues that they serve on a committee that will be a nonsense, that sits to choose a chairman and then can sit no more."
It is I believe not only a gross discourtesy to the Speaker but a flagrant abuse of the power of the executive in relation to the wishes and interests of this House Theresa MayShadow Commons leader
Many MPs are concerned that police were allowed to search Mr Green's Westminster office 11 days ago without a warrant.
But Labour backbencher Frank Field said the debate was descending into a "pantomime" and MPs would be judged on how they voted.
Commons leader Harriet Harman said the next House of Commons Commission meeting would consider whether a High Court judge should have to grant a warrant if police wanted to carry out a parliamentary search in future.
The opposition parties are angry that while Speaker Michael Martin promised a "speedy" inquiry by a committee of seven MPs chosen by him, the government has proposed a committee dominated by Labour MPs which will not start work until after the police investigation has finished.
She told MPs the issues that needed to be considered were whether MPs' papers were "properly protected", what led up to the police search and whether "important constitutional principles were properly protected".
Ms May said the government's plans "fly in the face" of the Speaker's pledge.
We all agree there's something called parliamentary privileges but hardly anyone agrees exactly what it amounts to Frank Dobson, Labour MP
'Properly protected'
But she said it was important to avoid any perception that Parliament was "breathing down the police's neck" or could prejudice any future court proceedings.
She told MPs: "It is I believe not only a gross discourtesy to the Speaker but a flagrant abuse of the power of the executive in relation to the wishes and interests of this House, a blatant attempt by government to pack the committee, stymie its debate and delay its work until the controversy has blown over."
"It is for neither government nor opposition to pronounce what the evidence is and whether a crime has been committed," she added.
Mr Hughes accused Commons leader Harriet Harman of "arrogantly and disrespectfully" trying to change the Speaker's plans "in the interest of government".
The opposition parties are angry that, while Speaker Michael Martin promised a "speedy" inquiry by a committee of seven MPs chosen by him, the government has proposed a committee dominated by Labour MPs which will not start work until after the police investigation has finished.
Former Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell has put down an amendment to the government's motion setting up the committee, calling for it to report back "not later than 30 January 2009" and "on the circumstances that surround that search and seizure".
During a lively Commons debate, Conservative former minister Douglas Hogg accused ministers of "concealment, duplicity, whitewash and cover-up".
Ms Harman told MPs a Parliamentary inquiry into the arrest of Mr Green and 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".
Tory backbencher Sir Nicholas Winterton said that, even in Zimbabwe in 1982, Robert Mugabe's police had not entered Parliament to arrest an MP.
It is for neither government nor opposition to pronounce what the evidence is and whether a crime has been committed Harriet HarmanCommons leader
'Over the line'
But she said it was important to avoid any perception the inquiry was "breathing down the police's neck" or prejudice any future court proceedings.
However, Labour former minister Frank Dobson told MPs the rules on police entering the Commons were "not clear".
She said the inquiry would fall "on the same territory as the current police investigation".
"We all agree there's something called parliamentary privileges but hardly anyone agrees exactly what it amounts to," he said.
She said ministers and opposition leaders had to be "very careful about what they say".
Mr Green stood up at one point to caution Mr Dobson who suggested the Tory MP had a "sort of standing order with this civil servant" to get a continuation of leaks.
"It is for neither government nor opposition to pronounce what the evidence is and whether a crime has been committed," she said.
He said the Speaker had warned against saying anything prejudicial and that Mr Dobson had gone "way over the line".
Rules 'not clear'
Mr Green was arrested last month and held for nine hours by the Metropolitan Police.
Ms May replied that delaying the inquiry would "effectively kick this issue into the long grass".
His homes and offices were searched, as part of an inquiry into allegations of leaks from the Home Office.
She said the Tories would not support any inquiry dominated by Labour MPs. The Lib Dems have already said they will boycott the inquiry in its current form.
In rowdy scenes, Tory backbencher Sir Nicholas Winterton said even in Zimbabwe in 1982 Robert Mugabe's police had not entered Parliament to arrest an MP. Mr Hogg accused the government of 'whitewash'
But the Labour former minister Frank Dobson told MPs the rules on police entering the Commons were "not clear".
"We all agree there's something called Parliamentary privileges but hardly anyone agrees exactly what it amounts to," he said.
Mr Green, the MP who was arrested, stood up at one point to caution Mr Dobson who suggested the Tory MP had a "sort of standing order with this civil servant to get a continuation of leaks.
Mr Green said the Speaker had warned against saying anything prejudicial and said Mr Dobson had gone "way over the line".
The row erupted after Mr Green was arrested 10 days ago and held for nine hours by the Metropolitan Police.
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 were angry police had been allowed to enter the Commons, without a warrant - something Speaker Michael Martin has already said he regrets.
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 the Speaker himself did not come in for criticism during the debate, despite 32 MPs telling the BBC at the weekend they had lost confidence in him.
But he 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.
