Tories ‘at war’ with the police
Ex-officers accused of bid to oust Mrs May’s deputy
THE Tories were at war with Scotland Yard last night after former officers tried to oust Theresa May’s deputy.
Damian Green’s political career is in jeopardy after a retired detective claimed ‘thousands’ of pornographic images were found on his computer.
The Prime Minister’s problems worsened when Brexit Secretary David Davis threatened to quit if she fired Mr Green.
The ex-detective, Neil Lewis, said he was acting to support former police chief Bob Quick, who was heavily criticised over a 2008 raid on Mr Green’s Commons office and who first aired claims about pornography last month.
Mrs May, who lost two Cabinet ministers last month, was last night weighing up whether she could afford to lose another ally – or possibly two.
A friend of Mr Davis said he had ‘put his cloak around’ Mr Green, who served as his deputy when the Tories were in opposition. The Brexit Secretary is said to regard the police claims as ‘bogus’ and has told Mrs May not to sack Mr Green.
A source close to Mr Davis said he was ‘very angry’ about the treatment of the First Secretary of State, adding: ‘Because of the events that took place nine years ago, when Damian worked in David’s team, David has an interest in what is going on and is clear he will not allow one of his men to be mistreated over what happened then.’
Mr Green, 61, has been under investigation over disputed claims he made unwanted advances on Tory activist Kate Maltby.
Sue Gray, director of ethics and propriety at the Cabinet Office, has also quizzed him on the pornography allegations, which he denies. She has separately interviewed Mr Quick and Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick. It is understood she is aware of the evidence from Mr Lewis but has not spoken to him. Her report has been delayed until next week at the earliest.
Mr Green yesterday said his accusers were lying, telling reporters: ‘I have maintained all along and I still maintain – it is the truth – that I did not download or look at pornography on my computer, but while the investigation is going on I can’t say any more.’
Friends of Mr Green accused the police of launching a vendetta against him as payback for the botched raid – part of an investigation led by Mr Quick into Home Office leaks.
An external police review of the investigation later ruled it was disproportionate – while the leaks were embarrassing to the then Labour government, they were not a threat to national security.
Former Cabinet minister Andrew Mitchell, who resigned as chief whip over the ‘Plebgate’ row after he swore at officers in Downing Street, accused the police of misusing
‘I did not download pornography’
information to blacken the name of a Cabinet minister.
Ex-Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith said: ‘This is all payback by embittered former police officers. It’s about getting even with us and getting even with him.’
Tory MP Jacob Rees-Mogg said:
‘This is all payback’
‘The police behaved disgracefully as a political arm of the then government: they raided an opposition minister’s offices; this was a real scandal.
‘And now the police, or ex-police, are using information obtained improperly to damage a politician. What we should be asking about is the politicisation of the police force under the last Labour government, not about Damian Green.’
Mr Lewis told the BBC he was involved in analysing the then opposition immigration spokesman’s computer. He claimed to have been shocked by the pornographic material found on the computer, which he said ran to thousands of images. He acknowledged the material was legal but claimed it had been accessed for several hours a day on occasions.
Allies of Mr Green last night criticised the BBC for failing to press Mr Lewis over his claims.
One said: ‘I am disgusted with the fact the BBC have taken this guy’s highly dubious claims and run them as fact, accompanied by a very soft interview.’
Police colleagues rallied round Mr Lewis. But his actions threatened to renew hostilities between rank-and-file officers and the Conservatives.
Scotland Yard said it was looking at how the information became public, but insisted this fell short of a full investigation. The force is co-operating with the Cabinet Office inquiry but is desperate not to be dragged into a political row.
But Ken Marsh, who leads the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: ‘I am frustrated that the word of police officers is constantly being questioned when in the rankings of who people trust you will find MPs far lower down.’
A Scotland Yard spokesman said: ‘Confidential information gathered during a police inquiry should not be made public. The appropriate course of action is to co-operate privately with the Cabinet Office inquiry as the Met has done.’
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