Britannia Radio

Speaker 'regrets' over MP arrest

House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin has said he "regretted" that
police had been allowed to search a Tory MP's office without a warrant.

He revealed the Serjeant at Arms had authorised the raid on Damian
Green's office by signing a consent form.

Mr Martin, who knew in advance about the raid and Mr Green's arrest,
told the Commons he had not been told the police did not have a search
warrant.

He has referred the issue of seizure of material to a committee of
senior MPs.

Mr Martin also promised that, in future, a warrant would be required
before searches were carried out on Commons property.

Mr Green, shadow immigration minister, was arrested and held for nine
hours last week as part of a police inquiry into Home Office leaks.

He told the Commons it would be a "bad day for democracy in this
country" if facts that ministers preferred to keep hidden were not
revealed by MPs.

House of Commons Speaker Michael Martin has said he "regretted" that
police had been allowed to search a Tory MP's office without a warrant.

He revealed the Serjeant at Arms had authorised the raid on Damian
Green's office by signing a consent form.

Mr Martin, who knew in advance about the raid and Mr Green's arrest,
told the Commons he had not been told the police did not have a search
warrant.

He has referred the issue of seizure of material to a committee of
senior MPs.

Mr Martin also promised that, in future, a warrant would be required
before searches were carried out on Commons property.

Mr Green, shadow immigration minister, was arrested and held for nine
hours last week as part of a police inquiry into Home Office leaks.

He told the Commons it would be a "bad day for democracy in this
country" if facts that ministers preferred to keep hidden were not
revealed by MPs.

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