Straw orders bugging inquiry
Jack Straw orders inquiry after claims Scotland Yard bugged Muslim Labour MP visiting constituent in prison.
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Sunday, 03, Feb 2008 07:50
Justice secretary Jack Straw has ordered an inquiry after claims Scotland Yard bugged a Muslim Labour MP who was visiting a constituent in prison.
According to the Sunday Times newspaper, Sadiq Khan, MP for Tooting in south London, was recorded on two occasions while seeing Babar Ahmad, in Milton Keynes' Woodhill prison.
A childhood friend of Mr Khan's, Mr Ahmad is being held in detention awaiting deportation to the US on suspicion of running web sites connected to the Taliban and Chechen terrorists.
Speaking on BBC1's Andrew Marr Show, Mr Khan said he was "concerned" at the reports.
"That's why I'm pleased that the secretary of state for justice Jack Straw - as soon as he heard about these allegations yesterday - has ordered an inquiry," he added.
"And I'm obviously as keen as your viewers will be to find out whether the allegations are true because the implications clearly are quite serious."
David Davis, the shadow home secretary, later said he had contacted the prime minister in December last year regarding the alleged bugging, though he did not name the MP involved.
A Downing Street spokesperson said they could find no record of Mr Davis' letter.
The Sunday Times reports that there was internal concern within Scotland Yard regarding the bugging of the MP's conversations with Mr Ahmad, but that the operation proceeded nonetheless.
Scotland Yard has refused to comment on the reports which, if true, would constitute a breach of the doctrine introduced by prime minister Harold Wilson which prohibits the security services from using surveillance methods on politicians.
MPs have reacted angrily to the reports, with Khalid Mahmood, MP for Birmingham Perry Barr, commenting: "I certainly would not advocate or support what they have done."
He added: "I don't think for a minute Sadiq Khan would do anything not in the interests of this country. He is a member of this country, of parliament and is a whip and what has happened is highly questionable."
Mr Straw, Justice Minister, told the newspaper he was not aware of the facts behind the case but had ordered an internal inquiry.
He added: "It is completely unacceptable for an interview conducted by a MP on a constituent matter or in any other issue to be recorded."
Mr Khan has campaigned prominently against Mr Ahmad's proposed extradition.