Angry MPs threaten showdown with Speaker of the House after Damian Green arrest
By
Daily Mail Reporter
Last updated at 9:24 AM on 01st December 2008
David Davis has placed himself at the head of a cross-party campaign to challenge the Speaker over his role in the police raids on Damian Green.
The Tory bruiser has set up a Commons showdown on Wednesday - when MPs gather for the first time since Mr Green's arrest to debate the Queen's Speech.
The former Shadow Home Secretary is co-ordinating what is likely to be an explosive challenge to Speaker Michael Martin over his decision to allow a police raid in the Palace of Westminster.
Speaker Michael Martin during Prime Minister's Questions at the House of Commons in London. MPs are furious at what they feel was a dereliction of duty by the Speaker when he authorised Scotland Yard to search inside the Commons
MPs are furious at what they feel was a dereliction of duty by the Speaker when he authorised Scotland Yard to search inside the Commons.
Mr Martin's officials confirmed on Friday that he was involved in the decision, amid claims that he was aware 24 hours in advance that the police planned to raid Mr Green's office.
But they have tried to head off a confrontation by announcing that the Speaker will make a statement to MPs on Wednesday.
Mr Davis and other MPs will spend the next two days deciding the best way of raising their concerns without being ruled 'out of order' by Mr Martin.
By long-standing convention, MPs never publicly question the Speaker's authority for fear of weakening Parliament.
Anger: David Davis is set to challenge the Speaker in a cross-party campaign following the Damien Green scandal
But they want him to explain how officers from the Metropolitan Police were allowed to enter the Commons, raid Mr Green's office and take away sensitive constituency information. They could choose to raise Points of Order on Wednesday, but the Speaker may chose to rule them out.
Some angry MPs are even toying with the possibility of tabling a vote of confidence in the Speaker, which would have to be debated urgently.
Mr Davis, who revealed that he is playing a role in the party's strategy for handling the affair, said: 'I am the natural person to raise the issue because it has to be a senior backbencher.
'There is a nuclear option of a vote of confidence. Nobody can stop an MP if he chooses to do that, but Labour MPs will go tribal and back Mr Martin.'
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The speaker is so typical of this rotten to the core New Labour Government.
When things get tough blame somebody else.
The sooner we the public can have our say via a general election the better
If he's going to talk to 'Gorbals Mick' then I hope he takes a translator and someone to explain the Speaker's job.
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Talk about spin.
- Phil, Warrington, England, 01/12/2008 07:58