The UK prides itself on its democracy, championing the cause (sometimes successfully, sometimes unforgivably) across the world. But in last week or so accusations of Britain being a Stalinist state abounded. What has caused the uproar? Damien Green, the shadow immigration minister, was arrested by police investigating alleged leaks from the Home Office. After being held for nine hours, Mr Green has been released on bail until a date in February. His offices in Kent and in the Houses of Parliament and home were searched. Police said Mr Green was held on suspicion of “conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office”. There are MPs who believe the police have breached Parliamentary rules put in place after Charles I sent soldiers to arrest MPs in 1642. On that occasion the speaker of parliament refused to co-operate. Other MPs have raised concerns that police might be able to seize material they have been given by their constituents, including that critical of the police. Shadow home secretary Dominic Grieve told the BBC the material police were searching for had been used in the Commons by Mr Green, and therefore should be covered by Parliamentary privilege and not be used in a prosecution. Conservative leader David Cameron, writing in the News of the World, challenged ministers to condemn the arrest and said the prime minister’s stance so far was “not good enough”. He said: “The question is: does he think it is right for an MP who has apparently done nothing to breach our national security - and everything to inform the public of information they’re entitled to know - to have his home and office searched by a dozen counter-terrorist police officers, his phone, blackberry and computers confiscated, and to be arrested and held for nine hours?” Have the historic liberties of Parliament been infringed? Has British Democracy been assaulted? Well, as it turns out the British public don’t care. In a poll done by the Times (London), 56 per cent said they have not followed the affair closely enough to be able to express a view. Quite frankly there are more important things for them to be worrying about - will they lose their job, their home, all their money in the recession? I thought, however, that my friends in Kigali might welcome the news that our democracy is by no means perfect. Contact: llewellynkitty@hotmail.com
