Speaker's position untenable after police contradict Damian Green arrest details

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The position of Michael Martin as Speaker of the House of Commons looked increasingly untenable after the Metropolitan Police contradicted his official account of the raid on Damian Green's Parliamentary office.

By Robert Winnett, Deputy Political Editor
05 Dec 2008

SNIP:

In a statement to Parliament earlier this week, Mr Martin attacked the police for allegedly failing to set out to Mrs Pay the correct warrant process - as he claimed they should have. He expressed "regret" over the conduct of the police and sought to blame his officials for the debacle.

However, in a letter to the Home Secretary, Assistant Commissioner Bob Quick said that his officers had acted entirely correctly and the process was explained.

Mr Quick's letter, which was released to MPs yesterday, states: "The officers explained the nature of the investigation and the purpose of the search and were satisfied that the Serjeant at Arms understood that police had no power to search in the absence of a warrant and therefore could only do so with her written consent or that of the Speaker." The written consent was later provided.

Mr Quick also revealed that his officers have kept detailed notes of their discussions with the Commons authorities - which are likely to be scrutinised by an independent review into the investigation.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/3550064/Speakers-position-untenable-after-police-contradict-Damian-Green-arrest-details.html