Michael Martin - Not in the clear
As the facts change.... Michael Martin has indeed just told the House that they are not protected from arrest by any Parliamentary privilege.
But far from putting him in the clear, as I suggested earlier, the Speaker went on to list a catalogue of failures leading up to the search which raise major questions about the role of the police, Searjant at Arms and his own authority.
And revealed he could have turned away the police - because they didn't have a warrant.
It's frankly astonishing that the police did not apply for a warrant before searching Parliament. At first glance, it makes them look reckless in the way they appear to have blundered into Parliament.
Jill Pay, the Serjeant at Arms, is looking on very shaky ground now for failing to ask for a warrant. And the Speaker, who looked downright nervous in the chamber, looks like he is seeking to spread blame far and wide to avoid it landing on himself.
But right now, the first casualty looks like Pay. She has not had her endorsement (approbation) from the Queen, which could make it easier to get rid of her.
Perhaps, when those senior Police Officers concerned have been brought to the Bar of the House of Commons, to answer for the disgraceful and arrogant actions of thoer subordinates, to MPs - as requested by some MPs in the House today, the Sgt-At Arms might resign - she should in all conscience do so - and The Speaker stand down in favour of early retirement. It would be honourable and also proper. As to what might happen to those senior Police officers - that is for the House as a whole to decide.
Posted by: J S M Roberts | 3 Dec 2008 15:56:29
Scapegoat No 1 Sgt At Arms
Scapegoat No 2 The Tea Lady?
Thats it then...........All Sorted Eh?
Posted by: nimrod | 3 Dec 2008 16:01:14
The conduct of the police is in keeping with the pursuit of an enemy of the state. However, in their defence they are so bloody scared of everything at the moment that sensitivity is the least of their worries.
Posted by: Mad_Max | 3 Dec 2008 16:05:34
Since, apparently, the police did not inform the Sargeant-at-Arms that they did not have a warrant to search the offices of Damian Green, perhaps their search should be made illegal or at least invalid.
In any event, when challenged during the search they required the objector to leave. How then can we be sure that they did not plant evidence against Mr Green, since there were no independent witnesses to the search?
In light of these events, were high ranking police officers, who might be vying for the top job, trying to out do each other to ingratiate themselves with Ministers?
We have seen before the politicising of the Police by New Labour - even to the extent that police cars were emblazoned with vote New Labour stickers during election campaigns.
Posted by: Kris, London | 3 Dec 2008 16:11:52
Does anyone in this country still not believe that these gangsters are not destroying our democracy?
Posted by: Mark | 3 Dec 2008 16:22:54
There is a much deeper issue than whether the police needed a warrant. In any tyranny the police tend to be used as an instrument of oppression. Despite the cynicism that has come to surround parliamentary activity in the past half century or so, the House of Commons is the centre of British democracy - the last bastion against despotism. All that is needed for a search warrant is the signature of one JP on the evidence of one police officer. Do we really want the police to have the right to invade our legislature on the strength of such a flimsy decision?
There should be special safeguards in relation to police investigation of MPs in their role as the people's representatives and particularly for the search of their offices in the Palace of Westminster. This is what the House of Commons should be considering urgently.
Posted by: Kevin Beach | 4 Dec 2008 10:55:16
How many more times has Gorbals Mick to be cited as doing wrong and getting with it . I see he has passed the buck once again on to another person or persons. I say call for his resignation pronto
Posted by: george mannion | 4 Dec 2008 19:22:38
"Speaker Martin showed yesterday that if he'd been on the RMS Lusitania on May 7, 1915, he would have been first into the lifeboats.
Mae West round his neck, 'bags I the best seat'. Right, I'm ready. Shall we go?"
From Quentin Letts, classic!
Posted by: Londoner20 | 5 Dec 2008 10:09:00
Perish the thought but.......Has the office been'DEBUGGED'
HM the Queens samovar was?
Posted by: nimrod | 5 Dec 2008 13:43:40