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Khan welcomes 'bugging' inquiry Khan welcomes 'bugging' inquiry
(30 minutes later)
Sadiq Khan, the Muslim Labour MP allegedly bugged as he visited a constituent in jail, has welcomed an inquiry by the justice secretary. Sadiq Khan, the Muslim Labour MP allegedly bugged as he visited a constituent in jail, has welcomed a Commons inquiry into the claims.
Jack Straw ordered the inquiry into the Sunday Times's claim that police bugged the MP's conversation with Babar Ahmad at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes. Justice Secretary Jack Straw ordered the probe into claims that police bugged a conversation with Babar Ahmad at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes.
The Tooting MP said he was "pleased" an inquiry had been ordered quickly.The Tooting MP said he was "pleased" an inquiry had been ordered quickly.
Shadow home secretary David Davis said he wrote to Gordon Brown weeks ago to warn him a Labour MP was being bugged.Shadow home secretary David Davis said he wrote to Gordon Brown weeks ago to warn him a Labour MP was being bugged.
Mr Khan said he had been visiting Mr Ahmad, who the US wants to extradite on suspicion of running websites raising funds for the Taleban, as part of his constituency work.Mr Khan said he had been visiting Mr Ahmad, who the US wants to extradite on suspicion of running websites raising funds for the Taleban, as part of his constituency work.
It is the wrong way for police to act Khalid Mahmood class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7224800.stm">In profile: Sadiq Khan 'Quite serious'
Speaking on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Khan said: "Clearly I'm concerned, and that's why I'm pleased that the Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw - as soon as he heard about these allegations yesterday - has ordered an inquiry.Speaking on BBC One's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Khan said: "Clearly I'm concerned, and that's why I'm pleased that the Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw - as soon as he heard about these allegations yesterday - has ordered an inquiry.
"And I'm obviously as keen as your viewers will be to find out whether the allegations are true because the implications clearly are quite serious.""And I'm obviously as keen as your viewers will be to find out whether the allegations are true because the implications clearly are quite serious."
Mr Straw said it was "completely unacceptable" for an MP to be recorded while talking to a constituent. I think there will be deep concern on all sides of the House of Commons if these allegations prove to be founded Douglas AlexanderInternational development secretary class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/7224800.stm">In profile: Sadiq Khan
class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYGiven the way some MPs act in this day and age I'd say it was about time the law was changed to allow bugging of their conversations.John Byng class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4214">Send us your comments Mr Straw 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 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 Sunday Times reports that officers from Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist branch bugged visits by government whip Mr Khan to the prison in 2005 and 2006.
The 37-year-old MP and government whip has campaigned for Mr Ahmad's release. Mr Ahmad 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.
The bugging allegations concerned meetings at which he and Mr Ahmad had discussed sensitive personal and legal matters. 'Wilson Convention'
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. Mr Khan told the BBC earlier that he had only just heard about the allegations, and officials working for Mr Straw said he was informed on Saturday.
Mr Khan told the BBC earlier that he had only just heard about the allegations and officials working for Mr Straw said he was informed on Saturday.
But shadow home secretary Mr Davis said he had warned the prime minister weeks ago a Labour MP was being bugged - but received no reply nor any indication action had been taken.But shadow home secretary Mr Davis said he had warned the prime minister weeks ago a Labour MP was being bugged - but received no reply nor any indication action had been taken.
Mr David said he had been passed information that security services were tapping an MP's conversations and asked if it meant the "Wilson Convention" rules banning such actions had been abandoned. class="lp" href="http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/talking_point/default.stm">HAVE YOUR SAYGiven the way some MPs act in this day and age I'd say it was about time the law was changed to allow bugging of their conversations.John Byng class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?forumID=4214">Send us your comments
Mr Davis said he had been passed information that security services were tapping an MP's conversations and asked if it meant the "Wilson Convention" rules banning such actions had been abandoned.
The bugging of MPs by police has been barred since 1966 under a principle established by Harold Wilson's government.
According to the Sunday Times, the bugging device was hidden inside a hollowed-out table in the jail's main visiting hall.According to the Sunday Times, the bugging device was hidden inside a hollowed-out table in the jail's main visiting hall.
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.
'Deep concern'
Scotland Yard said it was not prepared to comment on the claims.Scotland Yard said it was not prepared to comment on the claims.
The US is currently seeking to extradite Babar Ahmad The Commons home affairs committee will investigate the allegations as part of their inquiry into whether the UK is becoming a "surveillance society".
Mr Straw said he had no knowledge of the facts but has ordered an internal inquiry. Committee chairman Keith Vaz told the BBC that if the allegations were true they would take the surveillance society into an entirely new dimension.
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."
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.
International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said the allegations relating to Mr Khan were "extremely serious".International Development Secretary Douglas Alexander said the allegations relating to Mr Khan were "extremely serious".
He told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I think there will be deep concern on all sides of the House of Commons if these allegations prove to be founded."He told BBC One's Andrew Marr Show: "I think there will be deep concern on all sides of the House of Commons if these allegations prove to be founded."
Mr Alexander also praised Mr Khan's "measured and responsible" reaction.Mr Alexander also praised Mr Khan's "measured and responsible" reaction.