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Probe into police 'bugging' of MP Probe into police 'bugging' of MP
(about 4 hours 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 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 was "completely unacceptable" for an MP to be recorded while talking to a constituent.
Hollowed-out tableHollowed-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 37-year-old MP and government whip has campaigned for Mr Ahmad's release.
The detained man faces no charges in the UK and is awaiting a decision from the European Courts to discover if he will be extradited to the US.
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 MahmoodIt 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". Jack Straw, Justice Minister, said he had no knowledge of the facts but has ordered an internal inquiry.
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. He added: "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."
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.
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.
"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.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. The bugging allegations concerned meetings at which he and Mr Ahmad had discussed sensitive personal and legal matters.
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." 'Very regrettable'
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 sent out a difficult message, not just for Muslim people but for British people.
"If he felt there was an issue of national interest Mr Khan himself would have made police aware. "I don't think for a minute Sadiq Khan would do anything not in the interests of this country. He is a member of this country, of parliament and is a whip and what has happened is highly questionable," he said.
"It is the wrong way for police to act." "It's very regrettable. This member of Parliament deserves the respect which he has been given by his constituents.
And Thurrock MP Andrew McKinlay said it was "wholly unacceptable" for MPs to be under surveillance. "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."
His views were echoed by Thurrock MP Andrew McKinlay said it was "wholly unacceptable" for MPs to be under surveillance.