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Met blasts ex-Speaker after he calls raid police 'crafty'
Nicholas cecil and Felix Allen03.11.09
Former Speaker Lord Martin started a row with Scotland Yard today by accusing police of "tricking" their way into the Commons to search an MP's office.
The Metropolitan Police denied the claim made by the ex-Speaker in evidence to MPs about the raid on shadow immigration minister Damian Green's office. Lord Martin, who this summer became the first Speaker to be ousted for more than 300 years, told the special Commons committee on issue of privilege that he had been "let down" by a senior official who failed to require a warrant for the search.
But he said that when he demanded an explanation from Serjeant at Arms Jill Pay, her boss Malcolm Jack, the Commons Clerk and chief executive, blamed the police. "I asked the Serjeant why she had conducted herself in this manner," Lord Martin told the MPs.
"The Clerk of the House intervened to say that Chief Superintendent Bateman had bamboozled the Serjeant and tricked her into keeping the matter from her immediate superiors." Asked if he believed the police had targeted the consent of the Serjeant because they did not think they would secure a warrant, he said: "We have a word in Scotland called 'sleekit' and they were being sleekit." Sleekit can mean being "crafty", "smooth" or "untrustworthy".
A Metropolitan Police Service spokeswoman said it was "surprised" by the claims about Ed Bateman, who remains in charge of security at the Commons: "At no point did Chief Superintendent Bateman, or any officer from the MPS, attempt to 'bamboozle' or 'trick' anyone in this matter." She said the Met would present evidence to the committee to disprove the allegations.
Reader views (8)
Michael Martin only has himself to blame. He installed Jill Pay to a position she was not equipped to handle. He did this by removing Major-General Grant Peterkin, who would never have been bounced by the police. So Martin, I refuse to call him Lord, was culpable under the "buck stops here" rule AND for his inadequate staffing policies.
We have not seen such an inefficient, corrupt and self-serving political establishment since rotten boroughs were abolished by the Reform Act in 1832.
If that were not bad enough, we also have a politicised police force who feel it necessary to answer such comment through the pages of the press instead of conventional channels.
Not one day goes by without my seeing at least one more justification for my emigration from the UK and here are two at once. How much further can it sink? Is there no one who can save it?
- Steve Buckel, Braunau-am-Inn, Austria
That would be the ex-Speaker who tried to blame the Sergeant at Arms and then anybody but himself? But who is now "fit" to be a Lord!
- Colin Macpherson, Gramat France
Martin is a classic example of the stupidity of creating titles for fools. It is unbelievable that he is now lord. Good Lord, how can this happen?
- George, Cambridge UK
Martin was thoroughly discredited in the eyes of the public, with most of us being outraged at his elevation to the Lords.
For him now to suggest that the Police tricked their way into Damien Green's office beggars belief.
The arrest of Green was entirely politically motivated; there is absolutely no way it could have happened without the full knowledge and consent of Gorbals, Mandlieson and McClown.
- Keith Lonsdale, Doncaster
Pot, Kettle and Black.
- Bob, Cheam
The real 'crafty' person here is the one that tried to block openess on the expenses scandal and has been rewarded with a place in the House of Lords. Time we had an elected second chamber - I have no confidence in this man whatsoever.
- Dave, London
Mick wouldn't know the truth if it bit him
- Richard Holland, Lichfield, UK
I thought 'Gorbals Mick' was being kicked upstairs into the House of Lords instead of into prison where he belongs,considering the extent of his involvement in the Expenses scandal."Silence is Golden".
- Frank, Bristol UK
