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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Probe into police 'bugging' of MP | Probe into police 'bugging' of MP |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Justice Secretary Jack Straw has ordered an inquiry into claims police bugged a Muslim Labour MP as he visited a friend and constituent in jail. | Justice Secretary Jack Straw has ordered an inquiry into claims police bugged a Muslim Labour MP as he visited a friend and constituent in jail. |
| Tooting MP Sadiq Khan and Babar Ahmad were recorded twice in Milton Keynes's Woodhill Prison, the Sunday Times says. | Tooting MP Sadiq Khan and Babar Ahmad were recorded twice in Milton Keynes's Woodhill Prison, the Sunday Times says. |
| The US is seeking to extradite Mr Ahmad on suspicion of running websites raising funds for the Taleban. | The US is seeking to extradite Mr Ahmad on suspicion of running websites raising funds for the Taleban. |
| Mr Straw said it would be "completely unacceptable" for an MP to be recorded while discussing constituent matters. | Mr Straw said it would be "completely unacceptable" for an MP to be recorded while discussing constituent matters. |
| Hollowed-out table | Hollowed-out table |
| The bugging is said to have been carried out by officers from Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch during visits by Mr Khan to the Milton Keynes jail in 2005 and 2006. | The bugging is said to have been carried out by officers from Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch during visits by Mr Khan to the Milton Keynes jail in 2005 and 2006. |
| The MP and government whip has been campaigning for Mr Ahmad, who faces no charges in the UK, to be released. | The MP and government whip has been campaigning for Mr Ahmad, who faces no charges in the UK, to be released. |
| According to the newspaper, the bugging device was hidden inside a hollowed-out table in the jail's main visiting hall. | According to the newspaper, the bugging device was hidden inside a hollowed-out table in the jail's main visiting hall. |
| It is the wrong way for police to act Khalid Mahmood | It is the wrong way for police to act Khalid Mahmood |
| The paper says it has seen a document showing there were internal concerns about bugging the MP, who is also a lawyer, but it went ahead anyway. | The paper says it has seen a document showing there were internal concerns about bugging the MP, who is also a lawyer, but it went ahead anyway. |
| Scotland Yard said it was not prepared to comment on the claims. | Scotland Yard said it was not prepared to comment on the claims. |
| BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said friends of Mr Khan believed he would be "furious". | BBC political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said friends of Mr Khan believed he would be "furious". |
| She said it was understood that no politicians were involved in any decision to bug Mr Khan's conversations and that staff at Woodhill Prison had raised concerns about the matter. | She said it was understood that no politicians were involved in any decision to bug Mr Khan's conversations and that staff at Woodhill Prison had raised concerns about the matter. |
| It appeared that any such decision may have been taken by someone in the upper echelons of the Met Police, she said. | It appeared that any such decision may have been taken by someone in the upper echelons of the Met Police, she said. |
| Our correspondent added that there were concerns the news could seriously undermine relations between Muslim communities and the government. | Our correspondent added that there were concerns the news could seriously undermine relations between Muslim communities and the government. |
| Efforts 'undermined' | Efforts 'undermined' |
| She said: "Sadiq Khan as a prominent Muslim MP, one of the first Muslim ministers, is one of the people who's trying to reassure members of Muslim communities to engage with government, to trust government. | She said: "Sadiq Khan as a prominent Muslim MP, one of the first Muslim ministers, is one of the people who's trying to reassure members of Muslim communities to engage with government, to trust government. |
| "This kind of thing will undermine some of the good work that he's been doing." | "This kind of thing will undermine some of the good work that he's been doing." |
| The bugging of MPs by police has been barred since 1966. A principle was established by Harold Wilson's government, following a series of eavesdropping scandals, that conversations between constituents and their MPs should be confidential. | |
| Mr Straw said he did not know whether Mr Khan was bugged but that he had ordered an internal inquiry. | Mr Straw said he did not know whether Mr Khan was bugged but that he had ordered an internal inquiry. |
| He said: "It is completely unacceptable for an interview to be conducted by a MP on a constituent matter or in any other issue to be recorded." | He said: "It is completely unacceptable for an interview to be conducted by a MP on a constituent matter or in any other issue to be recorded." |
| The Sunday Times said Mr Khan was "outraged" over the bugging allegations, which concerned meetings at which he and Mr Ahmad had discussed sensitive personal and legal matters. | The Sunday Times said Mr Khan was "outraged" over the bugging allegations, which concerned meetings at which he and Mr Ahmad had discussed sensitive personal and legal matters. |
| And other MPs have reacted angrily to the revelations. | And other MPs have reacted angrily to the revelations. |
| Khalid Mahmood, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said: "It's very regrettable. This member of Parliament deserves the respect which he has been given by his constituents. | Khalid Mahmood, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, said: "It's very regrettable. This member of Parliament deserves the respect which he has been given by his constituents. |
| "If he felt there was an issue of national interest Mr Khan himself would have made police aware. | "If he felt there was an issue of national interest Mr Khan himself would have made police aware. |
| "It is the wrong way for police to act." | "It is the wrong way for police to act." |
| And Thurrock MP Andrew McKinlay said it was "wholly unacceptable" for MPs to be under surveillance. | And Thurrock MP Andrew McKinlay said it was "wholly unacceptable" for MPs to be under surveillance. |