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Smith will not face MPs on Green Smith will not face MPs on Green
(10 minutes later)
Home Secretary Jacqui Smith is unlikely to make a Commons statement on the Damian Green affair despite ongoing questions, the BBC understands. Press reports Jacqui Smith will face MPs on the Damian Green affair on Monday have been denied by her office.
She is due to face MPs on Monday to make a statement on student visas. The home secretary is due to make a Commons statement on student visas when MPs return after their Easter break.
But she will resist calls to answer questions on the investigation into leaks of information to Tory MP Green on the grounds it is a police matter. But she will not be making a statement on the investigation into leaks to the Tory MP as it was a matter for the police, aides told the BBC.
Mr Green, who has been told he will not face charges, says police were called in due to ministerial embarrassment.Mr Green, who has been told he will not face charges, says police were called in due to ministerial embarrassment.
An MPs' investigation also suggested civil servants may have exaggerated the threat to national security caused by the leaks, owing to frustration at being unable to find the source of them.An MPs' investigation also suggested civil servants may have exaggerated the threat to national security caused by the leaks, owing to frustration at being unable to find the source of them.
Home Office worker Christopher Galley, who also learned on Thursday that he would not face charges, has said he was only responsible for four leaked documents - the Home Office had reported about 20.Home Office worker Christopher Galley, who also learned on Thursday that he would not face charges, has said he was only responsible for four leaked documents - the Home Office had reported about 20.
He said he had done it in the public interest and had not been offered a job by the Tories in return.He said he had done it in the public interest and had not been offered a job by the Tories in return.
He told Sky News: "I don't regret what I have actually done because I think I have highlighted particular failings in the immigration system which I feel a future government will rectify."He told Sky News: "I don't regret what I have actually done because I think I have highlighted particular failings in the immigration system which I feel a future government will rectify."
'Not secret''Not secret'
Newspaper reports on Friday suggest Ms Smith's authority had taken a blow over the affair, which comes after controversy over her second home expenses and the departure of anti-terror chief Bob Quick, but Home Office minister Vernon Coaker denied her job was on the line.Newspaper reports on Friday suggest Ms Smith's authority had taken a blow over the affair, which comes after controversy over her second home expenses and the departure of anti-terror chief Bob Quick, but Home Office minister Vernon Coaker denied her job was on the line.
He told the BBC: "I absolutely think she can keep her job. She's doing all she can to tackle the issues of today."He told the BBC: "I absolutely think she can keep her job. She's doing all she can to tackle the issues of today."
There is obviously damage in the sense that the papers are being critical but I think it is unfair to Jacqui Smith Lord FalconerFormer Lord Chancellor Arrested MP 'told he faced life' There is obviously damage in the sense that the papers are being critical but I think it is unfair to Jacqui Smith Lord FalconerFormer Lord Chancellor Arrested MP 'told he faced life'
Mr Quick, who led the inquiry into the Home Office leaks, stepped down on an unrelated matter after accidentally revealing secret documents to photographers - which meant a counter-terrorism operation had to be brought forward.Mr Quick, who led the inquiry into the Home Office leaks, stepped down on an unrelated matter after accidentally revealing secret documents to photographers - which meant a counter-terrorism operation had to be brought forward.
The five-month leaks inquiry effectively ended on Thursday when it was announced no charges would be brought against Mr Green - or Mr Galley, who passed information to the Tory frontbencher.The five-month leaks inquiry effectively ended on Thursday when it was announced no charges would be brought against Mr Green - or Mr Galley, who passed information to the Tory frontbencher.
Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said he had decided there was not enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for misconduct as the material "was not secret information or information affecting national security" and in some cases "touched on matters of legitimate public interest".Director of Public Prosecutions Keir Starmer said he had decided there was not enough evidence for a realistic prospect of conviction for misconduct as the material "was not secret information or information affecting national security" and in some cases "touched on matters of legitimate public interest".
'Responsibility''Responsibility'
A series of leaks in 2007 and 2008 included information about illegal immigrations who got security jobs in Britain, an illegal immigrant working as a cleaner at the House of Commons and predictions that the recession would lead to a rise in crime.A series of leaks in 2007 and 2008 included information about illegal immigrations who got security jobs in Britain, an illegal immigrant working as a cleaner at the House of Commons and predictions that the recession would lead to a rise in crime.
The inquiry led to concerns the police were being used to silence whistleblowers but Ms Smith has defended her department's role saying it would have been "irresponsible" not to have acted.The inquiry led to concerns the police were being used to silence whistleblowers but Ms Smith has defended her department's role saying it would have been "irresponsible" not to have acted.
She said she had a "responsibility" to keep information safe adding: "My job is to protect the British people. It is also to protect the sensitive information about how we protect them as well and that is what we have done."She said she had a "responsibility" to keep information safe adding: "My job is to protect the British people. It is also to protect the sensitive information about how we protect them as well and that is what we have done."
Ms Smith, who also found herself at the centre of an expenses row, faced a raft of damaging newspaper headlines on Friday suggesting her job was under threat - but former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that should not be the case.Ms Smith, who also found herself at the centre of an expenses row, faced a raft of damaging newspaper headlines on Friday suggesting her job was under threat - but former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that should not be the case.
He said he suspected she thought she was following normal procedure by calling the police.He said he suspected she thought she was following normal procedure by calling the police.
"There is obviously damage in the sense that the papers are being critical but I think it is unfair to Jacqui Smith," he said."There is obviously damage in the sense that the papers are being critical but I think it is unfair to Jacqui Smith," he said.
"She was doing what was believed to be the normal thing and I think what is now required is for the Cabinet Office to change their guidance in the circumstances in which police can be called in.""She was doing what was believed to be the normal thing and I think what is now required is for the Cabinet Office to change their guidance in the circumstances in which police can be called in."
Mr Green was arrested in November and held by the Metropolitan Police for nine hours on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office, and aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office".Mr Green was arrested in November and held by the Metropolitan Police for nine hours on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office, and aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office".
He said police officers told him if convicted he could face life in jail - which he said he thought was "absurd" - and said he was simply doing his job in exposing "the many failings of the government's immigration policy".He said police officers told him if convicted he could face life in jail - which he said he thought was "absurd" - and said he was simply doing his job in exposing "the many failings of the government's immigration policy".
"That's precisely what I was doing in this case and that's why ministers were so embarrassed," he said."That's precisely what I was doing in this case and that's why ministers were so embarrassed," he said.
A review of the methods used when police raided Mr Green's home and his Commons and constituency offices was carried out by British Transport Police Chief Constable Ian Johnston, but has not been published.A review of the methods used when police raided Mr Green's home and his Commons and constituency offices was carried out by British Transport Police Chief Constable Ian Johnston, but has not been published.