Comment Central's leak dossier brings down another politician

To assist the Metropolitan Police, whose work I take very seriously, and who can't spare a minute to do anything that is inessential in the war against crime, I have prepared a dossier. It allows them to follow a disturbing pattern of leaks.

They may wish, after informing the appropriate ministers, to send officers round to the home of the offending politician.

The Times January 4th 1988:

Mrs Margaret Thatcher was at the cente of the political storm last night after the leak of a confidential Whitehall memorandum disclosing that tough new rules are to be applied to state support for scientific research and development.

Officials at the department refused to comment on 'information that fails into someone's hands as a result of an unauthorized disclosure'.

Sources did confirm, however, that the memorandum from Mr Anthony Kesten, a senior official in the department's official Research and Technology Policy Unit, was genuine. They also indicated that a high-level internal inquiry is likely to begin today into how the document came to be passed to Mr Gordon Brown, opposition Treasury spokesman.

The Times July 2nd 1991:

The government last night seemed to be retreating from plans to include in its citizens' charter tougher consumer protection measures for users of the privatised utilities.

New draft documents leaked by Labour suggest that ministers and officials inthe trade department have dropped proposals for a reiew of the utilities and the performance of their regulators.

Labour claimed the latest document showed that Mr Major's proposed charter was worthless. Gordon Brown, shadow trade secretary, said the draft document had been prepared for the prime minister and circulated last Thursday to be included in the charter. It was drawn up after ministerial and official discussions of an earlier draft leaked by Labour.

The Times July 18th 1991:

[Defence Secretary Tom King] said that Labour claims, led by Gordon Brown, the shadow industry secretary and local MP, that the Rosyth base was to be closed had caused considerable alarm. People were led to believe that decisions had been taken when they had not.

Against a background of noisy protests from Labour MPs, he said that he hoped that the Leader of the Opposition, who was in his place, would consider the way a leaked document had been used and the fact that Rosyth was a defence ministry site used for the refitting of nuclear submarines.

He added: "The Leader of the Opposition will realise that these are grave matters and I am sure that he will be concerned that people on his front bench used leaked documents from such a source as though this was not a matter of considerable gravity.''

He hoped that those who hoped to be the future government would take seriously the fact that people who might be working for them felt free to leak documents no matter what their nature might be.

The Times December 19th 1991:

If Michael Heseltine wanted to leak a government document, he would have had more sense than to do so through a Labour spokesman.

He can therefore be acquitted of responsibility for the disclosure by Gordon Brown of his memorandum to fellow cabinet ministers arguing for a different treatment of EC funds to support the less well-off regions of the UK. The leak, more to the point, is salutory. The case he makes is now assured the public airing it deserves.

Sunday Times June 6th 1993:

Major blamed the party's opponents for spreading ``scare stories'' when he addressed the Tory women's conference in London on Friday. Yesterday, Michael Portillo, chief secretary to the Treasury, followed suit when asked about an apparent leak of Whitehall information to Gordon Brown, Labour's shadow chancellor.

Brown said that a team at the social security department was exploring ways to cut housing and sickness benefits.

Evening Standard June 11th 1993:

The documents the Government was today hit by fresh leaks of its planned clampdown on social security spending.

As ministers tried to brush over the banana skin of last night's leak on plans to tax invalidity benefit claims and make them harder, the Labour Party received more than 30 other pages of documents.

The documents were given to Shadow Chancellor Gordon Brown and his Social Security colleague Donald Dewar

Daily Mirror June 2nd 1993:

Secret papers showing plans for a Government blitz on the welfare state provoked outrage last night.

Premier John Major was accused of threatening cuts ``deeper and more insidious'' than anything contemplated under Margaret Thatcher.

The Whitehall papers leaked to Shadow Chancellor Gordon Brown reveal that seven task forces of senior civil servants have been ordered to examine the system from top to bottom for benefits to axe.

Daily Mirror March 18th 1994:

Virginia Bottomley's appointment as Minister for the Family was exposed as a sham last night. A leaked official document revealed that her ministry has rejected every option for better childcare.

Despite the Government's party-of-the-family rhetoric, the Department of Health has squashed every idea on one of the key areas of family policy. Shadow Chancellor Gordon Brown, who will unveil Labour's childcare plans next week, said: "This shows that Mrs Bottomley's appointment is just window dressing".

Daily Mirror September 10th 1994:

Shock Tory plans to dismantle the Welfare State have been exposed in a leaked Government document. Whitehall committees have been working on how to slash or means-test benefits paid to every family in the country.

Child benefit, pensions, sick pay, and unemployment benefit have all been targetted for cuts, the document called the "Review of Social Security - Second Stage" shows.

Shadow Chancellor Gordon Brown, who was sent the paper, said six of the seven Treasury-inspired committees had already reported.

Independent on Sunday May 4th 1997:

A front bencher from the last parliament said frankly: "None of us has the first sodding idea about what government means, whether any of us will be any good at it, or even what being good at it means....... Some of my colleagues have made a career out of being a conduit for leaks from the Civil Service to the press. That's hardly going to be much good in government."

Comments

[ex]

Brillianr

[Mark Williams]

Well, are you going to ask the Met to investigate those leaks and arrest the recipients for questioning. I think it is only just.

[Matt]

Thank you for this.

Can we expect Gordon Brown to be visited by members of the anti-terrorism squad? Or no?

[Jo]

It doesn't suit this Gov't to be retrospective in actions, it would highlight sll their other failings, so unlike the D.Green fiasco, no-one will sanction tis excellent suggestion.
josephine

[Steve]

Nice work, Danny.

It is refreshing that not all journalists are as supine as Nick Robinson.

[NotaSheep]

Excellent post but you know that nothing will happen to Gordon Brown or indeed any Labour politician for offences past or present. This Labour government is out of control and I fear for what they might try next. I have been predicting for a while now that there might not be a general election in 2009 or 2010, the Civil Contingencies Act could be used by Gordon Brown to postpone a general election for the reason of national security. Before you say that just couldn't happen, remember Labour postponed local elections in 2001 because of foot and mouth. Are you certain Gordon Brown wouldn't try it on if he thought he might lose the election, really certain?

[Bill Quango MP]

Oh dear..
Poor old Gordon.
One could almost feel sorry that this misfortune has befallen him.
Almost.

[KWC]

What is worrying is that Mr Green was detained under anti-terrorism laws and not official secrets legislation. Is Mr Green REALLY a terrorist? But then again, remember Stockwell.

[Ralph]

Talking about Nick Robinson, and the likes of Kevin Maguire, I hope they'll have visits from the police investigating all the leaks they get from cabinet ministers.

[Richard Garland]

Well spotted Finkster !!!

[Andy]

So have you made a complaint to the Metropolitan Police ? There is no time limit on these offences, so lets see the Police do their duty.

[Mike Smithson]

Fantastic work. Well done done.

[DisgustedDorothy]

Oh what a tangled web we weave ,
When first we practice to deceive!

[ant]

This must be a magic moment in politics.HOISTED BY HIS OWN PETARD.!
Whats good for the GOOSE Etc..
Send this list off to the MET..NOW
I do believe the PM of Israel is in a spot of bother with Percy Plod at
the moment as well.!
Mugabe??he's doin jus fine boss!

[nimrod]

OH Dear..what a WONDERFUL shame!!

[adamsmith1922]

Well said and if you do not mind I will reference this excellent post on my own site.

[blankeg]

SUPPRISE SUPPRISE GORDON SKELETONS IN THE CUPBOARD.
HANG ON THERES A KNOCK AT MY DOOR

[Robin paine]

What more can be said?

I am ashamed to be British, but proud that I have never voted for Labour, new or old.

[David]

Gordon Brown on leaks:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=QIrweIqqsOc

[Emily]

Fanatstic piece. Do we need to make a formal complaint? There's even video evidence apparently.

Also good to see a section of the Times that allows people to comment without the bizarre censorship that seems to operate on the main site.

[martin]

This institutionally corrupt nulabor government has for ten years oppressed whistleblowers and suppressed the truth, which must never be allowed to interfere with the nulabor project.

[Nom de Plume]

Can Robin Paine(post 4.43) present himself to the nearest ZaNU Liebour Cop Shop bringing with him a change of clothes for an extended stay.

Charges will be laid when Comrade Smith and Commisar McBroon can be bothered to find out what is going on in this country.

Next thing will be a trumped up emergency - remember the timely tanks at Heathrow - which will require the next election to be indefinitely postponed, purely on the grounds of 'elf n safety

[Bob Jones]

If you need a video for the dossier, click my name. One Gordon Brown admitting the leaks on an old BBC Breakfast. Surely the Police would like to tackle this one? He's already admitted it, should make their job a lot easier ... and we know they don't really like to do much hard work, that is presumably why they're detaining MPs instead of terrorists or knife wielders, much be a lot easier.

[Peter Brady]

I've sent the following letter

Dear Sir Paul Stephenson

PRIME MINISTER GORDON BROWN MP

Following the current developments regarding Damian Green MP I write to you to formally report the systematic receipt by Mr Gordon Brown MP of innumerable leaks from Government departments whilst – like Mr Green – in Opposition.

Please look into this matter on behalf of the Nation and take the necessary action.

In fairness to Mr Brown may I point out that as he is Prime Minister it may be inconvenient if 10 of your colleagues arrive unannounced at No 10. May I respectfully suggest you have a word with your colleague who normally stands guard outside No 10 for he/she may be able to indicate the best time to arrive and thus minimise any inconvenience or potential embarrassment to the Prime Minister.

I would appreciate a rapid response from you indicating any action to be taken by you. However if you fail in your public duty to actively pursue this formal complaint of a very serious crime – albeit an old one - I will have to take legal steps to address Mr Brown’s obvious guilt directly.

I list below details obtained from the internet – I can also confirm that I personally witnessed the footage shown on BBC TV.

Please note that I chose to write to you to list the evidence rather than directly ‘phoning the anti-terrorist hotline.

Similarly please do not consider arresting me for ‘wasting Police time’ – you started it!
Yours sincerely

PS For your personal information I have sent a copy of this letter to ACPO seeking further guidance on this matter

[Richard]

Glad to see that The Times is taking this constitutional outrage seriously, unlike the BBC. Nick Robinson in particular has not covered himself with glory in this affair. Where are the Leonards and Bernstiens of the BBC - the BBC needs a shake up and some investigative journalists prepared to take the establishment head on. The BBC has been neutered ever since the David Kelly affair - it has become Pravda in all but name! Shame on you BBC.

[IanB]

To quote the ever pertinent Yes Minister, "It's another of those irregular verbs. I hold confidential briefings, you leak, he's been charged under section 2A of the Official Secrets Act."

[Stephen Roberts]

Can everyone stop awarding Daniel Pulitzer prizes for this? I'm sure that News International has a searchable online archive and that it was fairly easy to search for "Gordon Brown" AND ("leaks" OR "leaked"). And he probably got a flunkey to do it, anyway.

[Kerrin Tansley]

Excellent article. If the government wanted to be consistent, they would have to reopen these cases, but the only want the law applied to their opponents, of course.

Funnily enough, the BBC website is the only one not to publish my criticisms of the government in this and other regards. Strange or not?

[Just-James]

Sorry all you people who suggest McBroon should have a visit from plod. You are forgetting the important nuLabour ministerial principle: Do as we say; not as we do!

[Philip Blaber]

Once again Stalin shows that it is one rule for him and one rule for everyone else.

[Hudson Hound]

This all just goes to show that we currently have the most undemocratic, authoritarion, underhand, truth-bending government in Western Europe. The proof is there for everyone to see, from the weapons of mass destruction claims and David Kelly affair to the various cabinet ministers who have managed to evade the law for easy to prove offences, like speeding, driving in the M4 bus lane, etc (maybe Tony Blair just did that to declare it closed to the rest of us?)
Perhaps all this slimy,smoke and mirrors attitude is the real definition of 'New Labour'? At least you had some idea of where the old lot stood.

[Guy]

I cannot believe labour has stooped this low.

[Richard]

zaNUlabour

[Paul Dale]

Perhaps, before getting too hot under the collar about leaked info, HMG should remember who started it. Unattributable references, nameless sources, anonymous tip offs? It's the very stuff of this regime. They don't like it up 'em Captain Mainwaring. Neither should they. Can't someone leak something so hot that this bunch of ne'erdowells can be hounded out of office once and for all?

[Mark R]

Yes Priminister's take on leaks:
http://onegoodmove.org/1gm/1gmarchive/2006/04/good_leak_bad_l.html

Plod of the Flying Squad was involved then...

[Nathan Stevens]

I have written to the Police to protest this abuse of Parliament.

[Tim]

Slight difference between receipt of leaked material, unsolicited albeit welcome - as all agree has always happened and will (and should) continue AND
actively soliciting said material in a calculated (political) way.
At this stage NO ONE KNOWS whether that is what Green has done. What is apparent is THAT is what he was arrested for and what he is suspected of. Why is the due process of suspicion, investigation, evidence gathering, arrest and prosecution so wrong when it is an MP?

[Dr David Lowry]

The arrest of a senior opposition MP, inter alia, for being in receipt of confidential Government documents, raises several questions in respect of the efficacy of the use of leaked documents.

We know that the current Labour prime minister justified his use of official documents, leaked to him when in opposition in the 1990s, on the grounds that it helped the then Labour opposition keep Conservative ministers to account.

In the 1990s I worked as a researcher for a Labour backbencher, Llew Smith, then MP for Blaenau Gwent, and who, like his predecessor as MP for the constituency, Michael Foot, an inveterate and high profile peace campaigner.

It was probably because of his well known public stance towards the first war with Iraq in 1991, that Mr Smith was anonymously sent in 1993 what were apparently private papers from the Ministry of Defence outlining health concerns over the use of organophosphates (OPs) - known to be toxic chemicals - to line tents pitched by the British armed forces, to keep way dangerous desert insects.

Mr Smith submitted a series of parliamentary questions to defence ministers seeking to clarify the knowledge the MOD had of the potential health hazards, at a time when serious concerns were being raised by returning soldiers and medical auxilaries over a debilitating illness dubbed 'Gulf War Syndrome.'

In a series of subsequent written answers, defence ministers denied MOD knowledge of OP use in the Gulf conflict. Cross-bench peer, The Countess of Mar, meanwhile, had been pursuing a similar line of enquiry in the Lords. (see House of Lords debates, 4 December 1996, columns 663-666,
http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/ld199697/ldhansrd/vo961204/text/61204-01.htm)

Mr Smith persisted for 18 months Parliament in pressing ministers, and eventually, in December 1996, the then Conservative Minister of State for the Armed Forces, (now Sir) Nicholas Soames, told Parliament in an oral statement :

"The House will recall that I made it public on 4 October that there had been wider use of organophosphate chemicals in the Gulf than had previously been thought, or than we had previously been advised. I have already apologised to the House for that, and expressed my profound regret and anger that that ran counter to earlier information given in utmost good faith by Ministers in answer to parliamentary questions. I unreservedly do so again. I subsequently told the House that a comprehensive investigation had been commissioned to discover the facts, and I promised to report the outcome as soon as it was known."
(Official Report, 10 December 1996, columns 119-23)

Current Labour Cabinet ministers who defend the effective intimidation of MPs - whether front benchers representing opposition parties, or their own backbenchers- should consider why public servants occasionally break their commitment to confidentiality and leak documents. It is very often when ministers, for reasons of policy or protection from embarrasment, persist in publicly repeating information they know to be false, or else they cannot justify.

[Thomas Denny]

Look Throughout Labours History
They Have Always Spent Taxpayers Money Without Care,This Government
Has A Long Trail Of Disasters From All Departments,Brow Bailed Out Into Primeminster To Evade The Gold He Sold To Plug A Black Hole.

[Richard Watts]

Excellent blog with all the right information to assist the Met in their chosen duties. In view of today's announcement I suppose we must not hold our breath.
The Met must show themselves to be non political which is a bit of a drag for them eh?!
But wait - who is that knocking at my door............

[KR]

Has anyone thought of asking the real question? Why was information that didn't threaten anything except embarrasment to a politician classified in the first place? If the information is in the public interest and is no threat to national security then it ought to be freely avaiilable. Abuse of security classifications is the whole reason we introduced a freedom of information act.

[DD Watts]

The police are investigating Damien Green's alleged 'grooming' of the source of his leaks, not the leaks themselves...

[john]

It does not do to confound leaks by government with leaks to opposition or the receiving of unsolicited information with soliciting it. If there is a point of principle here it is not well made in the cut n paste article or in some comments where simple jeering at GB is mistaken for a defence of democracy.

[Andrew S]

What is standard procedure for the investigation of leaks?

Are the police legally obliged to inform the government/minsters that they intend to arrest an MP?

[helen simmons]

In the interests of fairness and to show they do not have any political bias, indeed The Met should be making a visit to the home and offices of one Gordon Brown. His computers should be taken, his files, personal correspondence and make sure any old love letters between Gordon & Sarah are taken for examination too... yeah - fat chance.