Brown criticised in bugging row

Published on Sunday 3 February 2008 20:50

GORDON Brown was warned that an MP had been bugged but did nothing about it, shadow home secretary David Davis claimed yesterday.

Mr Davis said he wrote to the Prime Minister to tell him of a suspected breach of the rules which ban police and security services bugging MPs.

It was alleged that Labour MP Sadiq Khan had his conversations bugged twice while meeting a constituent in a prison.

Downing Street later denied that the Prime Minister had received the letter from Mr Davis warning him an MP had been bugged.

Number 10 said it could find no details of the letter and consequently the Prime Minister "knows nothing" about it. Jack Straw, the UK Justice Secretary, has launched an internal inquiry into the claims.

Mr Davis said he wrote to the Prime Minister about his concerns in December last year. He said he did not name Mr Khan in his letter to protect his source, but told the Prime Minister he had "reason to believe" an MP had been bugged.

Mr Davis said he asked Mr Brown "to look into it, but I haven't heard a word since".

It was reported yesterday Scotland Yard's anti-terrorist squad bugged conversations between Mr Khan and Babar Ahmad at Woodhill prison in Milton Keynes.

Mr Ahmad is in detention awaiting deportation to the US. He is a childhood friend of Mr Khan, 37, the MP for Tooting, London, and a government whip.

Mr Khan said: "Clearly I'm concerned. That's why I'm pleased Jack Straw, as soon as he heard about these allegations yesterday, has ordered an inquiry."