A funny thing happened on the way to the gulag

[InsaneApache]

I've been railing against the tendancy of the UK government to limit free speech and curtail civil liberties for years. Now it appears that just to embarress the Great Leader and his cohorts is enough to get you arrested by anti-terror police and thrown in a cell. I'm getting very nervous of the way the whole thing is panning out.

What was that Winston said about Gestapo tactics?

Spoiler Alert, click show to read: 

A Tory frontbencher was questioned by police last night after being arrested as part of a leak inquiry.

Damian Green, the Shadow Immigration Minister, was arrested in Kent and had his home, constituency office and Commons office searched by counter-terrorism officers. He may be charged for receiving documents allegedly passed by a male Home Office official who was also arrested.

Conservative sources said that David Cameron was furious about the treatment of one of his team and described the arrest as “Stalinesque”. George Osborne, the Shadow Chancellor, said that the police had some “very big questions” to answer over the arrest.

A spokesman for the Prime Minister insisted that Gordon Brown had “no prior knowledge” of the arrest.

The Metropolitan Police denied any ministerial involvement in the decision to arrest Mr Green. “A 52-year-old man . . . has been arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office and aiding and abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office,” it said.

“The investigation into the alleged leak of confidential government material followed the receipt by the Metropolitan Police Service of a complaint from the Cabinet Office. The decision to make today’s arrest was taken solely by the Metropolitan Police Service without any ministerial knowledge or approval.”

The Conservatives said: “As Shadow Immigration Minister, Mr Green has, on a number of occasions, legitimately revealed information, which the Home Office chose not to make public. Disclosure of this information was manifestly in the public interest. Mr Green denies any wrongdoing.”

The official connected to Mr Green’s arrest acted as cover for absent staff in the private offices of Home Office ministers. It is understood that he was arrested last week.

Mr Green, the MP for Ashford, is facing questions about four leaks to the media between November last year and September this year. They include a letter from the Home Secretary to Mr Brown over the economic downturn’s impact on crime. It is understood that the Home Office and Whitehall were alarmed at this disclosure because it was circulated among so few people. Other damaging stories include a list, prepared by Labour whips, of MPs’ likely voting intentions on legislation to extend to 42 days’ detention without charge.

Tory sources said that Mr Cameron supported Mr Green fully and was confident that he had not paid for the documents. The arrest is certain to start a political row over who in government knew about or sanctioned action against a Tory frontbencher.

It was unlikely to be a coincidence that the arrest happened on Sir Ian Blair’s last day in charge of the Met.Sources close to the Shadow Cabinet suggested that an investigation into such a senior politician would have been cleared “at the very top”.

Mr Green was released and bailed to return to the police station in February. Speaking outside the House of Commons early today, he said: “I was astonished to have spent more than nine hours under arrest for doing my job. I emphatically deny I have done anything wrong. 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 I certainly intend to continue doing so.”

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/new...cle5248278.ece

Watch this space, this is going to get very interesting.

This would be funny if it wasn't so close to the bone.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_EQc_hLHXON...bie-gordon.jpg

[Papewaio]

That is the kind of thing that can bring down a government. I would put every conceivable legitmate and lawful spanner in the works to stop a government that is behaving like a police state.

Sounds far more like Zimbabwee.

Person reports if from the cabinet... but no one in the cabinet knows it happened.

And are we seriously supposed to believe that something of this nature wasn't mentioned to PM Brown.

Either he is a lame duck or lying. Either way turf that government out on its ear.

[JR-]

a disgrace no doubt. we'll have have to how it plays out but i hope it grows into a monumental political hot potato, because if it doesn't then it would indicate that british democracy is in very poor health, even compared to nations we like to mock.

[Sir Moody]

Not to say the Police didn’t mishandle this (because it sounds like they have once again made a total mess of things) but he was in possession of internal Government documents and if he paid for them like the Police are claiming he’s broken the law and should be arrested.

I’m a little confused about why counter terrorism officers were involved though since this was (just barely) a espionage case if anything…

[InsaneApache]

This is Guidos take on it...

In May 1985, a youthful opposition politician got hold of a leaked confidential government review proposing to encourage the unemployed to get jobs by reducing their dole. This, he raged, was " a raid on the poor".

Gordon was not arrested. Ironically it is also his government's policy now.

Can't do a link, there's a fair bit of swearing on his blog.

I am cynical, I know, but this is a political act IMHO.

[HoreTore]

but he was in possession of internal Government documents and if he paid for them like the Police are claiming he’s broken the law and should be arrested.

BAH!

He should be recompensated for the money.

[Fragony]

Oh crap just made a thread about this. Completely natural development, cows eat grass, water is wet, and lefties become totalitarian when in charge that is just the way of things.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mlk05iDxzXI

[English assassin]

Just as telling is some labour politicians (only a few, but alas quite senior) tentatively trying out the line "well, Green did have leaked documents....no one is above the law...national security dontcha know"

First up, the national security line is pure hogwash. None of the leaks related to national security and the idea that a Tory shadow minister is a threat to national security is laughable. (Certainly he's less of a threat than the current government).

But mainly, he's an opposition spokesman. HE'S SUPPOSED TO TRY TO GET LEAKED DOCUMENTS. This talk that if he paid for them it would be a crime so the police were right to investigate is complete rubbish, or are the feds going to kick in the door of every politician and journalist who gets a leak?

Something's up here, for sure.

Of course it hardly helped that the speaker of the House of Commons has been shown up for the hopeless idiot he is. THIS is how the speaker is supposed to behave:

In January 1642, King Charles, accompanied by over 300 swordsmen, entered St Stephen's in a foolhardy attempt to arrest five of his principal opponents in the Commons on a charge of treason. The members, however, had been warned of Charles’s intention and escaped.

When asked where the members could be found, the Speaker, William Lenthall, fell to his knees before the King and said:

‘May it please Your Majesty, I have neither eyes to see, nor tongue to speak in this place, but as the House is pleased to direct me, whose servant I am here, and I humbly beg Your Majesty’s pardon that I cannot give any other answer than this.

This extraordinary declaration established the Speaker as the spokesperson of the House of Commons. Charles left St Stephen’s in humiliation, and no monarch has ever entered the Commons Chamber since. The English Civil War ensued, culminating in the dramatic trial and execution of the king.

There is not much to his job but he failed even on the little that there is. Martin should have gone before but must go now.

[JR-]

stunted little class warrior with some hefty chips on his shoulder. should never have been Speaker.

[InsaneApache]

It's getting like a game of pass the parcel. Usual crap from those in power. "It won't me guv, a big boy did it and ran away!"

I feel for Jill Pay who's obviously being set up as a patsy.

Won't anyone take responsibilty these days for cock ups?

[JR-]

she was by all accounts a very unsuitable person to hold the post.

some useless functionary from a non-entity government department, shoe'd in by Mr Chippy to replace the Public School Ex Army Officer, as Seargeant at Arms for Paliament.

stupid decision all around, committed by a stupid speaker

[Sir Moody]

Just as telling is some labour politicians (only a few, but alas quite senior) tentatively trying out the line "well, Green did have leaked documents....no one is above the law...national security dontcha know"

First up, the national security line is pure hogwash. None of the leaks related to national security and the idea that a Tory shadow minister is a threat to national security is laughable. (Certainly he's less of a threat than the current government).

But mainly, he's an opposition spokesman. HE'S SUPPOSED TO TRY TO GET LEAKED DOCUMENTS. This talk that if he paid for them it would be a crime so the police were right to investigate is complete rubbish, or are the feds going to kick in the door of every politician and journalist who gets a leak?

Something's up here, for sure.

Of course it hardly helped that the speaker of the House of Commons has been shown up for the hopeless idiot he is. THIS is how the speaker is supposed to behave:



There is not much to his job but he failed even on the little that there is. Martin should have gone before but must go now.

Hate to break it to you but it IS against the law - its just not prosecuted in most cases - the Police can arrest and charge someone over leaked documents and have in the past - they just dont most the time because of political pressure

HE'S SUPPOSED TO TRY TO GET LEAKED DOCUMENTS

Qouted this again because its utter Rubish - as a opposition member he isnt SUPPOSED to try and get documents he is SUPPOSED to provide a counter arguement and represent the opositions views on his department - it is nowhere in his job description that he should be engaging in espoinage (because thats what it is) to take Government documents.

Now this doesnt excuse the Governments actions on this (and despite their claims i cant believe the police acted without orders from Labour) they have quite effectivly tried to kill a fly with a bomb and then are doing the usual Labour pass the buck when it blew up in their face