Below is a letter I sent to my MP regarding the constitutionally important issue of Damian Green's arrest by the Metropolitan Police. I have finally received a letter from the Home Office - which essentially states it cannot comment about an ongoing police investigation (no surprise there then). More disappointing was the fact that my MP, Alan Williams, didn't bother to comment directly on the affair or appear interested in taking up the issue within the institution of Parliament (he merely forwarded the letter to the Home Office). He stands down at the next election and I will be interested to see if his replacement shows more interest in representing constituents concerns *within* Parliament.
Friday 28 November 2008
Dear Alan Williams MP,
I write to express my concern that Metropolitan Police officers, namely
members of its counter-terrorism command, arrested and searched the
offices of an acting MP, Damian Green. More worryingly I wish to
express dismay that it appears that they searched his office within the
Parliamentary Estate. I think it is unacceptable that police officers
submit any MP to this kind of search without clear reference to
Parliament. This is essentially that State interfering directly within
the workings of Parliament and as such shows that the police are
developing a worrying disregard for the sanctity and preeminence of
Parliamentary privilege. It is reported that Speaker Michael Martin
had authorised the search, if this is so, then I would expect you as my
MP to call for his resignation and for a full inquiry into the way in
which this matter was handled. More so considering the justification
was an obscure and little-used offence under common law 'aiding and
abetting, counselling or procuring misconduct in a public office'.
I am even more surprised and shocked that members of the Government
were not informed in advance of the decision of the police to conduct
this inquiry (more so when the police are required to enter Parliament
to search for information).
Parliamentary privilege exists to safeguard our democratic rights from
incursions from either the State, the Monarchy or any other threat to
our democracy. Parliament must assert itself and ensure that any search
or activity by the police or security services within its boundaries
are carefully monitored and subject to the authority of Parliament in
the last instance. Increasingly the rights of Parliament appear to be
considered anarchonistic or out-dated by too many members of the
security services or the police. In fact, it appears that this is also
the opinion of too many of the sitting parliamentarians. It is about
time for the dogmatic slumbers of MPs to be disturbed and Parliament to
take a severe and critical look at the attitudes towards Parliament by
government and State institutions, such as the police.
I hope that you will raise this matter in Parliament and with the Home
Office.
Yours sincerely,
David Berry