Shadow Immigration Secretary arrested under Official Secrets Act

Indy500 · 27 Nov 2008 at 23:29

Shadow Immigration Secretary Damian Green arrested over alleged leaks

The information in question is thought to be:

:: The revelation in November 2007 that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was aware the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers but did not think the Home Office's official explanation was "good enough" for the press office or ministers to use;

:: The fact that an illegal immigrant had been employed as a cleaner in the House of Commons, which emerged in February this year;

:: A whips' list of potential Labour rebels who might vote against the Government over plans to increase the pre-charge terror detention limit to 42 days in a crucial Commons vote;

:: A letter from Ms Smith to Prime Minister Gordon Brown warning that the recession could lead to a rise in violent crime and burglaries.

Not suprising considering those caused considerable embarassment to the current government...

meghatronic · 28 Nov 2008 at 00:57

"In a democracy, opposition politicians have a duty to hold the Government to account. I was elected to the House of Commons precisely to do that and certainly intend to continue doing so."

^ point.

Andy100 · 28 Nov 2008 at 04:27

Leaking official secrets that, quite clearly, should not have been official secrets in the first place.

They are hardly a matter of national security.

Azagoth · 28 Nov 2008 at 05:21

Arrested by whom, Miniluv?

scorza · 28 Nov 2008 at 08:39

:: The revelation in November 2007 that Home Secretary Jacqui Smith was aware the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers but did not think the Home Office's official explanation was "good enough" for the press office or ministers to use;

:: The fact that an illegal immigrant had been employed as a cleaner in the House of Commons, which emerged in February this year;

:: A whips' list of potential Labour rebels who might vote against the Government over plans to increase the pre-charge terror detention limit to 42 days in a crucial Commons vote;

:: A letter from Ms Smith to Prime Minister Gordon Brown warning that the recession could lead to a rise in violent crime and burglaries.

Tricky subject this - 1 and 2 are fair game imo, 3 and 4 are political issues and for the civil servant to leak those I would have to suspect him of being politically motivated, which civil servants are not supposed to be. Governments cannot be effective if civil servants are going around leaking confidential information - ok, it's morally justifiable if the information involves the government doing something wrong, such as employing illegal immigrants, but not letters from the Home Secretary to the PM about current affairs.

One thought though - if this Conservative MP genuinely thought he was doing his job, why did he pass on the information to the press silently? He could have asked questions in parliament based on information he'd received - why the cloak and dagger routine?

Strife212 · 28 Nov 2008 at 08:40

Really tired of this government

Sankari · 28 Nov 2008 at 08:53

How did he get his hands on this information? Is it "Bribe a Civil Servant Week", or something?

:confused:

[DOD]Asprilla · 28 Nov 2008 at 09:19

Just have to point out that it wasn't the Official Secrets Act that he was arrested and questioned under, it was a different bit of legislation that escapes me at the moment.

BBC said:
Police say Mr Green was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office" and "aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office".

aardvark · 28 Nov 2008 at 09:41

this government seems to think we live in Russia.

Voltar · 28 Nov 2008 at 09:43

aardvark said:
this government seems to think we live in Russia.

Cosimo · 28 Nov 2008 at 09:45

What next, the Gulag?

Voltar · 28 Nov 2008 at 09:46

simulatorman said:
What next, the Gulag?

lol idd

Meridian · 28 Nov 2008 at 09:51

From the BBC:

Police say Mr Green was held on suspicion of "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office" and "aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office".

The problem is probably not that he leaked the stuff, but that he allowed a civil servant to leak to him. It's debatable if he committed an offence, but the civil servant committed a serious one, and the MP helped him/her to do so.

M

Indy500 · 28 Nov 2008 at 10:06

Meridian said:
The problem is probably not that he leaked the stuff, but that he allowed a civil servant to leak to him. It's debatable if he committed an offence, but the civil servant committed a serious one, and the MP helped him/her to do so.

M

Hmm, interesting point. Wonder if this civil servant has been identified yet...

Brian Stuart · 28 Nov 2008 at 10:07

If every politician was arrested that leaked, conspired to leak or aided a leak then they would all be in Paddington Green

scorza · 28 Nov 2008 at 10:10

sr4470 said:
Hmm, interesting point. Wonder if this civil servant has been identified yet...

A junior home office official has been arrested but not charged.

Bill101 · 28 Nov 2008 at 10:17

aardvark said:
this government seems to think we live in Russia.

I believe that it was the police who detained him. If anything it is the chief of the Met. Blair getting his own back on his last day in office

Indy500 · 28 Nov 2008 at 10:20

Bill101 said:
I believe that it was the police who detained him. If anything it is the chief of the Met. Blair getting his own back on his last day in office

You think? I'd argue it was politically motivated given the information...the police do take some orders from politicians (more specifically the Home Secretary).

The Mad Rapper · 28 Nov 2008 at 10:40

Nuke him from orbit TBH!

a1ex2001 · 28 Nov 2008 at 10:47

How much of the tax payers money will we be wasting on this non event? It takes the mick in these times of belt tightening for the MET police to be wasting time chasing headlines, this will clearly result in no prosecution so why are they bothering.