Ex-Speaker Martin faces MPs once more
Former Speaker Michael Martin faced a grilling from senior MPs over the arrest of Damian Green today, whose parliamentary office was searched by police last year.
Metropolitan police officers did not have a warrant to search the building but were permitted to do so by parliamentary authorities, who are headed by the Speaker.
The arrest sparked outrage from the opposition, who claimed parliamentary privilege had been breached.
Mr Green was arrested on suspicion of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office, but in April the Met announced he would not face charges.
Lord Martin told MPs soon after the incident, which took place in November 2008, that serjeant-at-arms Jill Pay had signed the consent form without first consulting him.
He was subsequently forced to resign his post as Speaker in the wake of the expenses scandal, which he helped cover up. Ms Pay remains the serjeant-at-arms.
Lord Martin appointed a committee of seven “senior and experienced” MPs to investigate the incident.
The committee on the issue of privilege, investigating police searches on the parliamentary estate, is required to deliver its report to the Commons by the end of the year.
It is chaired by former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell and also includes ex-home secretary David Blunkett and former Conservative party leader Michael Howard.
