Tories release footage of MP raid

Conservatives release footage of Damian Green raid

Tuesday, 02, Dec 2008 12:00

Footage of police searching the office of Damian Green after his arrest has been released by the Conservative party.

In the video David Cameron's adviser Andrew Mackay is shown entering the MP's office before being asked to leave.

Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve said that during the "rigorous" search Mr Green's papers and computers were removed, "depriving him completely of the ability to carry out his work as a member of parliament until they were returned".

Immigration spokesperson Mr Green was arrested last week in connection with a series of leaks from the Home Office.

But the handling of the arrest has caused controversy and consternation in Westminster, leading the home secretary Jacqui Smith denying having prior knowledge of the arrest.

Speaker Michael Martin is due to give a statement to MPs at 14:30 GMT tomorrow ahead of a debate on the Queen's Speech.

But Mr Cameron and Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg are understood to have agreed to try and force a debate on Mr Green's arrest.

In his only comment on the affair, prime minister Gordon Brown has insisted that no-one, including MPs, is above the law.