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Straw 'not told' of bugging claim Straw 'not told' of bugging claim
(about 1 hour later)
Ministry of Justice officials were told on 14 December that Labour MP Sadiq Khan had been bugged, an internal investigation has revealed. Ministry of Justice officials were told on 14 December about allegations that Labour MP Sadiq Khan had been bugged, an internal investigation has revealed.
They and his special adviser were told that a journalist was pursuing the story, but Justice Secretary Jack Straw and other ministers were not told. They and Justice Secretary Jack Straw's special adviser were told of press interest - but Mr Straw was not told.
An inquiry is under way after claims at the weekend that Mr Khan's visits to a constituent in prison were bugged. He was only informed there was a story about Mr Khan and Woodhill Prison, and assumed it was a political smear.
Mr Straw assumed the media story about Mr Khan was a political smear. An inquiry has begun after claims at the weekend that Mr Khan's visits to a jailed constituent were bugged.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Straw was not therefore told about the allegations that conversations between Mr Khan and Babar Ahmad had been bugged. BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Mr Straw was not told about the allegations that conversations between Mr Khan and Babar Ahmad had been bugged.
Wilson Doctrine
He said that privately officials admit that alarm bells should have sounded when they had a press enquiry about the bugging of a conversation involving an MP.He said that privately officials admit that alarm bells should have sounded when they had a press enquiry about the bugging of a conversation involving an MP.
Mr Khan, who made his name as a human rights lawyer before becoming an MP, visited his constituent and childhood friend Babar Ahmad in prison in 2005 and 2006.
If true, this is frankly extraordinary and raises enormous questions about the leadership of this department David Davis
The Sunday Times claimed counter-terrorism officers secretly recorded the discussions - Mr Ahmad is awaiting extradition to the US which accuses him of running websites supporting terrorism, but faces no charges in the UK.
A 40-year-old code known as the Wilson Doctrine forbids - or was thought to forbid - the covert recording of conversations between MPs and their constituents.
The Tories said the alleged bugging of Mr Khan was a breach of the spirit of the Wilson Doctrine and called on ministers to clarify the legal position.
Ex-officer's claims
Shadow home secretary David Davis said the latest disclosure also raised fresh questions about Mr Straw's leadership of the Ministry of Justice.
"On the one hand, we are told Jack Straw has been briefed by his officials on press inquiries relating to Sadiq Khan's visits to HMP Woodhill yet, despite his officials knowing of the allegations of bugging, they still failed to brief him on these," he said.
Jack Straw must come before the House as soon as possible and explain exactly what has been going on in his department David HeathLib Dems
"If true, this is frankly extraordinary and raises enormous questions about the leadership of this department."
Liberal Democrat justice spokesman David Heath said: "Jack Straw must come before the House as soon as possible and explain exactly what has been going on in his department."
Meanwhile, the ex-police officer who claims he bugged Mr Khan's visit to Mr Ahmad says his life is "at risk" after the case was leaked to the media.
Mark Kearney, a former police intelligence officer at Woodhill Prison in Milton Keynes, claimed the Met Police put him under "significant pressure" to bug Mr Khan.
He faces charges - unrelated to the bugging claims - of leaking information to a local newspaper.
Mr Straw announced on Monday that Chief Surveillance Commissioner Sir Christopher Rose is to head an inquiry into the allegations.
He said Sir Christopher, a former Court of Appeal judge, would try to find out under whose authority any bugging was carried out and would present his findings within two weeks.