Green anger over speaker’s statement
By politics.co.uk staff
Conservative MP Damian Green has made angry protests about being prevented from discussing a police investigation involving him inside the Commons.
He was ordered to stop speaking by deputy speaker Sylvia Heal while making comments about a statement made by Commons speaker Michael Martin concerning e-mails sent between Mr Green and former shadow home secretary David Davis.
Mr Green described it as “absurd” that he was not able to discuss the inquiry into home office leaks while inside the Commons.
He said it was “extraordinary” he had not been approached about the matter and that Mr Martin had used only police information as the basis for his statement.
Mr Martin had said metropolitan police solicitors had sought to establish the “relevance” of e-mails they held as part of an ongoing investigation.
They had contacted Mr Green’s solicitors over the matter but did not want any new e-mails.
Mr Green told the Commons: “I find it extraordinary that in a matter which concerns e-mails between two members of this House, and the fact that they may be private, the house authorities didn’t approach me to establish facts, but have approached the metropolitan police and have taken as the basis for a speaker’s statement, the police’s own version of events – and only their version.
“Even more seriously, the house will wish to know that mister speaker has declined my request that the standards and privileges committee look at the material seized from my office to decide what is privileged.
“Instead the clerks to this house….”
At which point he was cut off by Ms Heal who said: “You are an experienced member of this house and know it is not the appropriate way to question the statement of the speaker.
“I will ensure the remarks you have made are brought to mister speaker’s attention.”
Mr Green began to protest, saying: “It is absurd that I can say things outside this House but not inside…”
Ms Heal cut him off once more and said: “I’ve already made a ruling. It is open to you to write to the speaker in addition to the action I will take in ensuring your comments are brought to his attention.”
The police inquiry concerns leaks by a member of the Home Office.
There was widespread outrage when officers searched Mr Green’s offices in parliament without a warrant in November.
Mr Martin said in December that future searches by police would require a warrant and he would have to personally approve any police requests to search offices.
Dominic Grieve, shadow justice secretary, said: “The way in which this matter is now developing appears now to give rise to very serious concern.”
Mr Davis had asked the speaker on Monday to clarify rules regarding police access.
He said police had approached Mr Green and asked for “access to e-mails between him and myself”.
Mr Martin said on Monday he was unaware of any such request.
