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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Tories demand 'bugging' statement | Tories demand 'bugging' statement |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Tories are demanding a Commons statement from Justice Secretary Jack Straw on how police may have flouted convention by eavesdropping on an MP. | The Tories are demanding a Commons statement from Justice Secretary Jack Straw on how police may have flouted convention by eavesdropping on an MP. |
| It follows claims counter-terrorism officers secretly recorded discussions between MP Sadiq Khan and a constituent he was visiting in Woodhill Prison. | |
| Mr Straw has ordered an inquiry into the claim, which if true would breach a 40-year-old anti-bugging code. | |
| Downing St says it has no record of a letter Tories say warned of the issue. | Downing St says it has no record of a letter Tories say warned of the issue. |
| Childhood friend | Childhood friend |
| The conversations alleged to have been recorded took place in 2005 and 2006 between Mr Khan and Babar Ahmad - a constituent and childhood friend - who is in prison awaiting deportation to the US. | The conversations alleged to have been recorded took place in 2005 and 2006 between Mr Khan and Babar Ahmad - a constituent and childhood friend - who is in prison awaiting deportation to the US. |
| He is accused there of running websites supporting the Taleban and Chechen terrorists, though he faces no charges in the UK. | He is accused there of running websites supporting the Taleban and Chechen terrorists, though he faces no charges in the UK. |
| Mr Khan, MP for Tooting and a government whip, has campaigned for Mr Ahmad's release. Sadiq Khan has welcomed the inquiry | Mr Khan, MP for Tooting and a government whip, has campaigned for Mr Ahmad's release. Sadiq Khan has welcomed the inquiry |
| Police are entitled to monitor prisoners' communications but such operations must first be approved by the surveillance commissioner who considers them on a case-by-case basis. | Police are entitled to monitor prisoners' communications but such operations must first be approved by the surveillance commissioner who considers them on a case-by-case basis. |
| However, a code known as the Wilson Doctrine forbids the covert recording of conversations between MPs and their constituents. | However, a code known as the Wilson Doctrine forbids the covert recording of conversations between MPs and their constituents. |
| Mr Straw is expected to announce later who will lead the inquiry into the alleged breach. | Mr Straw is expected to announce later who will lead the inquiry into the alleged breach. |
| Mr Khan has welcomed the probe, saying that, if his conversation was indeed recorded, it would undermine the basis of the relationship between MPs and constituents. | Mr Khan has welcomed the probe, saying that, if his conversation was indeed recorded, it would undermine the basis of the relationship between MPs and constituents. |
| Scotland Yard has refused to comment on the allegations, made in the Sunday Times. | Scotland Yard has refused to comment on the allegations, made in the Sunday Times. |
| Mr Straw has said he has no knowledge of what had happened but that it is "completely unacceptable" for MPs' conversations to be recorded. | Mr Straw has said he has no knowledge of what had happened but that it is "completely unacceptable" for MPs' conversations to be recorded. |
| The Conservatives have published a letter which they say shadow home secretary David Davis sent to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in December alerting him to the possible breach of the doctrine. | The Conservatives have published a letter which they say shadow home secretary David Davis sent to Prime Minister Gordon Brown in December alerting him to the possible breach of the doctrine. |
| But Downing Street says it has no record of the letter being received by Mr Brown. | But Downing Street says it has no record of the letter being received by Mr Brown. |