It sounds like a news story from the bad old days of Stalinist Russia: a high profile politician and elected representative allegedly leaks information from a whistleblower that embarrasses the government. As a result he’s arrested in a raid by armed anti-terrorist officers.
That’s what happened yesterday in England.
Tory immigration spokesman Damian Green was arrested at his home yesterday, counter-terrorist officers reportedly searched his home and office. He was then held and questioned for nine hours before being released on bail.
Green is suspected of the “crime” of conspiring with a civil servant to allegedly release information such as the following:
- The Home Secretary knew the Security Industry Authority had granted licences to 5,000 illegal workers, but decided not to publicise it
- An illegal immigrant had been employed as a cleaner in the House of Commons
- A list of potential Labour rebels against plans to introduce 42 days internment
- A letter from the Home Secretary warning that a recession could lead to a rise in crime
Even if the allegations against Green are true, that’s hardly stuff that could compromise national security. It’s simply information that the government wanted to conceal for political purposes.
The Conservative party are understandably furious at this unprecendented and heavy-handed arrest. David Cameron has reportedly described the events as “Stalinesque”. He’s right.
Did the government know about or authorise the arrest? They say no - however it’s standard procedure for the Home Secretary to be informed prior to action involving MPs.
Even if no government minister knew about this it doesn’t change the fact that it happened. Even if the police acted entirely on their own, it’s a result of the last decade of Labour rule that we live in a country where they even consider such an action.
Obviously MPs should not be above the law. However this appears to be a case that the police simply should not have wasted time pursuing, MP or otherwise. There are certainly better uses for anti-terrorist officers.
New Labour has been taking away our freedoms bit by bit so that most people don’t notice what’s hapening. When an elected MP is arrested for embarrassing the government we may well be at a very dangerous tipping point.
In a free country releasing this sort of information should not be a crime, it should be a duty.
