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Did ministers have warning of police raid? MPs think so
Joe Murphy, Political Editor28 Nov 2008
As feverish gossip swirled last night that a Tory frontbencher had been arrested, the rumour mill predicted embarrassment for David Cameron.
Many wondered if the alleged "Treasury mole" long believed to have been feeding documents to George Osborne had been finally caught.
That would have been highly embarrassing to the Opposition since Gordon Brown would have argued powerfully that an economic crisis is no time to leak market sensitive policies.
How extraordinary then that the hand of the law should fall upon the shoulder of the mild figure of Damian Green, regarded as a benign figure by many Labour MPs.
As David Davis argued, Churchill would have been a prisoner in 1940 rather than prime minister if such action had been taken in the Thirties.
In such circumstances, Mr Cameron can argue there was a "whistleblower" rather than a "mole" at work. The difference is not a legal technicality but one of emotional appeal - and it is absolutely crucial.
This is thus dreadfully damaging to the Government - and No10 was trying to shield Mr Brown. But many MPs cannot believe ministers had no advance warning when Mr Cameron, the Commons Speaker and Boris Johnson all knew.
One effect might be to frighten other leakers into hiding. And none is hunted as much as Mr Osborne's suspected source. Ministers think the shadow chancellor was behind accurate reports of the VAT cut and the 45p top band - meant to be budget surprises on Monday but leaked over the weekend.
After this heavy-handed action, the moles will be much more wary in future.
Reader views (14)
i would just wait until the tories get back in power and use the laws implemented by Labour to fully investigate and proscecute most of them. Once they are all in jail repeal the laws for the rest of us and leave them to rot .
- Den, London, 30/11/2008 19:39
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is it possible they were wearing EAR PLUGS at the time. after all they told us they were open and an honest party not like them
- John Green, Nottingham uk, 29/11/2008 16:35
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If Boris Johnson knew in advance why did he not contact the PM if only to complain !!
I smell a Tory rat !
- David Dee, Canterbury, 29/11/2008 16:08
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"who will rid me of this turblent priest (or in this case opposition MP)?
- Jeremy E, London, 29/11/2008 09:11
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Surely Brown and Smith should be furious that no one warned them of these raids, that 'they did not know', seeing as everyone else did!
- Willstead Ash, London, 29/11/2008 08:54
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For Brown & Smith sadly, NOTHING is a resignation matter
- P.Doff, filey uk, 28/11/2008 21:43
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This is so serious a threat to our democracy it requires a judicial enquiry to examine the full facts.
- G Harvey, Winchester,England, 28/11/2008 20:45
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The Conservatives should not take this example of Stalinism lying down-it's surely a resignation matter at Government level; However, don't you just get the feeling that this Government would like to adopt these sort of measures, with a compliant police force doing their bidding, as normal practice?
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK, 28/11/2008 16:30
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Of course Brown and Smith knew all about this disgusting act as they would have been told about it by the instigator - that slimy, evil, repulsive, lying, cheating, corrupt Mandelson.
- Roger, England, 28/11/2008 15:43
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Zimbabwe comes to mind. thanks to NuLabor and its recently renewed cohorts, the Mandy & Campbell act !
- Brian Hughes, wales, 28/11/2008 14:40
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If Boris Johnson knew about this and he was able to say he had "grave misgivings", the "other half" of Met management is the Home Secretary. It is inconceivable that if the Sergeant at Arms, Mr Speaker, David Cameron and Boris Johnson knew what was about to happen, that "NO GOVERNMENT MINISTER KNEW" as Brown and Smith repeated on TV. Did anyone ring the Home Office or Ministry of Justice to ask what they thought they were doing? The truth will out.
- Danny, Manchester, 28/11/2008 14:18
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Anti -terrorist police were used. So clearly the Labour government have labelled the Conservative party a terrorist organisation.
- Ian, Reading, England, 28/11/2008 12:27
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Just put yourself into Damian Green's shoes for a moment:
You are a shadow minister.
You are doing your job:
You expose incompetence and mismanagement in a government department - in the interest of all of us.
And that's your job.
But counter terrorist police 
will visit you.
They hold you for nine hours.
It must have felt very intimidating.
It's truly shocking what has happened here.
For heaven's sake - Green is a member of the opposition's front bench!
His arrest is a direct attack on the structure of our democracy.
And you are telling me Mr Brown and co did NOT know about such a dramatic event?
Thank god, Green could not be held for 42 days - yet.
- Sd, London England, 28/11/2008 11:59
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So Brown and Smith say they had no warning?
Bet they don't say that in the commons - lying to parliment is a resignation issue
- John Lowe, london, 28/11/2008 11:59
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