There is much fluttering in the dovecots about the arrest by the Metropolitan Police of Tory MP Damian Green, for the alleged crime of "aiding or procuring misconduct in public office." The arrest, we are told, is connected to the disclosure of several Home Office documents over the last year, which were subsequently leaked to the media.

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OT - Riots in Iceland http://news.scotsman.com/world/A-nearri ... 4722970.jp

Hmm £20K a head, a student loan or two.

Interesting that the protesters think more regulation would have helped. Also interesting that they march on their Parliament, I don't think anyone here feels that would achieve anything.

If parliament wishes to stop its MPs leaking then it has the power to do so. The issue here is the intervention by the executive (in the guise of the old bill) and the chilling effect of a MP behind bars and boys in blue sorting through papers in the Commons Office of a sitting opposition member. (Can you even do that without the approval of the Speaker?)

New Labour, Old Socialist Labour, call them what you will, believe they can do anything they like. Sadly, with today's breed of 'educashion educahon, educashin' schooled voters who can only be bothered to vote for strictly come ice skating in the jungle and a pitiful opposition party they are correct. More, I fear, to come.

1. MPs are not above the law ... IF he has committed a criminal offence, then it is right and proper that it should be investigated.

2. A search of his parliamentary office can ONLY be done with the permission of the Speaker.

3. The issue, therefore, is that Green appears to have stepped outside the protection of parliament and appears to have chosen to indulge in press leaks rather than use his parliamentary position to challenge the government.

4. If that was the case ... stoopid, stoopid, stoopid. And, in its own way, an abuse of Parliament.

Was Martin informed and did he give consent to the search?

MPs are certainly not above the law, though they are in certain situations responsible only to parliament and not to the courts or executive.

In this case, whether or not Green stepped outside the strict parameters of parliamentary privilege and whether or not he was a stupid boy are less important than the symbolism of the police raiding the commons office of a shadow minister, rifling through his files and arresting him over a series of not particularly important leaked documents.

The best possible scenario here is that the police overreached themselves and acted without the knowledge and without the consent of the government - I sincerely hope that is the case.

Did the Home Secretary know of the Polices' intention to raid the House of Commons.

I wonder if any of the blue-green algae can put that one together.

Damien Green MP is not above the law. If he has broken the law he should be charged. That is axiomatic. But I cannot help thinking that one sergeant and one constable from the local nick would have been sufficient to interview him, at least in the first instance. Nine anti-terrorist officers seems a little OTT when there are endless complaints about lack of resources.

Incidentally, there are sections on this forum for people who want to write off the thread. Please do so in future. Iceland has nothing to do with the story of Damien Green. Not that it matters what another Guest may have to say on any subject. Find a moniker.

Nine anti-terrorist rozzers to arrest one (harmless?) citizen sends only one clear message to those who wish to hear: Intimidation. One of the necessary steps on the downward path to absolute state control.

"Find a moniker.".......find a Comments facility.

Will the anti-terrorist squad will now set their sights on the NuLabliars who have, on a regular basis, leaked to the press.

This move by Brown's personality cult running HMG is way over the top. You can bet your last Dollar if the leak came from a NuLabour hack/Minister, there would have been no police at all.

The whole thing reeks of strongarm tactics meant to quell dissent. It stinks.

"1. MPs are not above the law ... IF he has committed a criminal offence, then it is right and proper that it should be investigated."

Of course they are,it is only opposition MPs who can be charged,Did Lord Minge or George Galloway get their collars felt?

This might be the reason,a number of the terrorists were from the same area as the 7/7 bombers.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldne ... mbers.html

Bit embarrassing for the multi culti open borders Brownistas.

Damian Green is an MP and a member of the Shadow Cabinet. He is not a harmless citizen. And he is not, repeat not above the law. So cool it, everybody. Incidentally, George Galloway is also in opposition at the moment. There was no need for nine anti-terrorist rozzers but neither is this a case of ... sob, sob, sob ... martyrdom. I thought everybody on this forum was always calling for the arrest, torture and execution of politicians. Well, here is a start. A small step but you ought to be pleased instead of complaining.