Report criticizes MPs Speaker14 old: 34 22/03/2010, Alan Travis, Andrew Sparrow, commons speaker, Damian Green, guardian.co.uk, House of Commons, Mich

Report criticizes MPs Speaker14 old: 34 22/03/2010, Alan Travis, Andrew Sparrow, commons speaker, Damian Green, guardian.co.uk, House of Commons, Michael Martin, news, police, politics, news UK Guardian Unlimited

The former President could not take control and the police search of the office block shadow minister of Commons, the investigation is

The first idea speaker, Michael Martin, did not "take control" and a search block police from the office of Westminster, the immigration spokesman Conservatives Damian Green, according to a congressional investigation released today.

Today's report by the privileges committee of Commons in Green's 2008 arrest for his role in leaking restricted Home Office documents critical "breaches" by officials of Whitehall civil servants, Commons and the police themselves in the matter.

But they said Mr. Martin, who "should have been asking the right questions and ... should have taken greater responsibility in exercising the authority of his high office."

The issue caused a major row over parliamentary privilege in 2008 after counterterrorism official police searched the office of Green idea without a warrant when they were investigating the leak 31 Home Office.

Green was arrested in November 2008 regarding the leaks. Christopher Galley Earlier, a government official, was also arrested. Green always insisted that the leaked information used to commit the Government to the account was part of his role as a member of Parliament and the Service Crown Prosecution Service in April 2009 decided not to prosecute or kitchen green.

Green's arrest was particularly controversial because it later emerged that police had been able to search his office in the Commons without a warrant. Members were furious and a special committee, chaired by former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, was created to investigate the matter.

The deputies' report criticized the Interior Ministry for "allowing an exaggerated impression" to form on the damage caused by leaks. The Cabinet Office is criticized for calling the police instead of dealing with leaks as a disciplinary matter and giving the "wrongly judged, hyperbolic and useless" impression that it was damage to national security.

Police under fire for its "absolutely unnecessary" decision to launch a surprise strike by Green, which was "poorly executed".

Police have refused to participate, the report said.

He said the decision to arrest Green was "disproportionate" and that the wording of the orders obtained for the search of Green's two houses and the elections office was "sloppy".

The Commons authorities - the President, the Secretary of the house and the sergeant at arms - are also heavily criticized for its "very poor communications, resulting in a complete misunderstanding of the process to allow a search of a military police office.

The former President, who now sits in the Lords as Lord Martin of Springburn, told the inquiry that its officials had not kept properly informed. Police could not obtain a search warrant because Jill Pay, the sergeant of arms idea, approved the search.

The Committee agreed that Martin should have been "better service" by its officials. But he also said that Martin had to accept some responsibility for what happened.

"We agree with Mr. Martin of Springburn that House officials should have better served the President and the Clerk of the House has apologized to reason that things were not better treated, but it was inescapable responsibility of the President Martín to ensure that the right questions were asked.

"Mr. Chairman Martin has not exercised the ultimate responsibility, that was his alone to take control and not just wait to be informed," Mr conclude.

Green said: "This report exposes serious shortcomings in the heart of government, police and parliamentary authorities. The ultimate responsibility for this sad attempt of an authoritarian government lies with the ministers, and within weeks, the British people will be able trial moving on them. "

Michael Martin
Commons Speaker
House of Commons
Damian Green
Police
Alan Travis
Andrew Sparrow


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