Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Leaks undermining Home Office, says top official
A string of leaks from the Home Office which prompted officials to call in the police and led to the arrest of the Conservative front-bencher Damian Green was "completely undermining" the department's work, its most senior civil servant said yesterday. Sir David Normington defended his decision to call in Scotland Yard, saying he was "completely frustrated" by 20 leaks over a two-year period. He told the home affairs committee that whoever was leaking the material was "despicable and disloyal".said: "We were completely frustrated and very concerned about the situation. We seemed to have somebody or some people who were deliberately and maliciously leaking material for political purposes." Sir David said he believed he had followed proper procedure by ordering an internal investigation and then calling police. Officers arrested a junior official, Christopher Galley, on 19 November. Mr Green was arrested and his offices searched eight days later. Prosecutors are considering whether they will face charges.
IMO: At least one of these leaks related to National Security and I suspect some prominent UK newspapers (including the Guardian) have misreported this matter in a way that could be shockingly unfair to the UK Government. Not that anyone believes the wretched self-serving lies and humbug of the Press by now anyway. Bloggers can give a much clearer picture overall
A string of leaks from the Home Office which prompted officials to call in the police and led to the arrest of the Conservative front-bencher Damian Green was "completely undermining" the department's work, its most senior civil servant said yesterday. Sir David Normington defended his decision to call in Scotland Yard, saying he was "completely frustrated" by 20 leaks over a two-year period. He told the home affairs committee that whoever was leaking the material was "despicable and disloyal".said: "We were completely frustrated and very concerned about the situation. We seemed to have somebody or some people who were deliberately and maliciously leaking material for political purposes." Sir David said he believed he had followed proper procedure by ordering an internal investigation and then calling police. Officers arrested a junior official, Christopher Galley, on 19 November. Mr Green was arrested and his offices searched eight days later. Prosecutors are considering whether they will face charges.
IMO: At least one of these leaks related to National Security and I suspect some prominent UK newspapers (including the Guardian) have misreported this matter in a way that could be shockingly unfair to the UK Government. Not that anyone believes the wretched self-serving lies and humbug of the Press by now anyway. Bloggers can give a much clearer picture overall
# posted by uv : 5:27 PM
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