Home Office leak suspect breaks silence

The 26-year-old official who was arrested for passing unclassified information to the Tories broke his silence on Monday through his lawyer to criticise the “unpleasant” and “unnecessary” action by the police.

Christopher Galley, a junior Home Office civil servant, did not speak at a press conference organised by Bindmans, the law firm, because he is the subject of a live police investigation. He is on bail to return to the police for further questions in January.

But solicitor Neil O’May said his client had acted in a responsible manner in the public interest. He had passed on documents that were at the “lowest level” and little more than “embarrassment material”.

Michael Martin, House of Commons speaker, was meanwhile under pressure on Monday after it emerged he would attend a secret meeting on Tuesday with ministers to discuss a co-ordinated response on Wednesday. The position of speaker should be politically impartial.

Dominic Grieve, shadow home secretary, said it was a “completely improper meeting” which should have included opposition MPs.

Mr Galley first met Damian Green, the shadow immigration minister, two years ago and subsequently passed him information that ended up in newspapers.

A political storm broke last Thursday after Mr Green’s homes and offices were raided by 20 police officers. This came just a week after Mr Galley was held under arrest for 17 hours and questioned.

Both men have been bailed on suspicion of conspiring to break the rarely used law of “misconduct in public office’’. Neither has been charged.

The Tories insist Mr Green never gave the civil servant any job offers or financial inducements.

The visit by seven anti-terror police to Mr Galley’s home on November 19 was a “very scary business” which was totally disproportionate, his lawyer said.

Mr O’May said his client had passed documents to Mr Green in a “close to regular” manner. He said none of the material was related to national security, terrorism or sensitive financial matters.

Police are still carrying out an inquiry into the leak of the documents despite condemnation from opposition parties about the raids.

On Monday Sir Paul Stephenson went ahead with his bid to become the new Metropolitan police commissioner despite criticism of his role in Mr Green’s arrest. The acting head of the Met is one of several applicants to replace Sir Ian Blair permanently at the helm.

There had been speculation Sir Paul could withdraw after underestimating the furious reaction to the arrest of the Conservative MP.

Sir Hugh Orde, Northern Ireland police chief, is now seen in some quarters as front-runner for the post. But it is understood Sir Paul pressed ahead after assurances from the Home Office and Labour members of the Metropolitan Police Authority to apply for the job.

The Commons’ public administration committee is to launch its own inquiry into civil service leaks.