Scotland Yard denies it "tricked" Commons officials into allowing the search of Tory MP's office

The Metropolitan Police has denied claims that a senior office tricked a Commons official into allowing the search of Tory MP Damian Green's parliamentary office.

The allegations were made by the former Speaker, Lord Martin, during evidence to an inquiry into the affair.

Green, a shadow immigration minister, was arrested in November 2008 as part of a Home Office leaks inquiry. Many MPs were furious about the search and he did not face charges.

Martin told the committee on policing and Parliament that he had been "let down" by the Serjeant at Arms, Jill Pay, who failed to inform him that the police had no warrant for the search.

But he added that the Commons Clerk, Malcolm Jack, defended her on the grounds that she had been manipulated by the police.

Martin said: "The Clerk of the House intervened to say that Chief Superintendent Bateman had bamboozled the Serjeant and tricked her into keeping the matter from her immediate superiors."

A spokesman for the Met said it was "surprised" by the suggestion.

He said: "At no point did Chief Superintendent Bateman, or any officer from the MPS, attempt to 'bamboozle' or 'trick' anyone in this matter."

"There is a clear audit trail, including a letter and signed search consent form, which supports this and which will be presented to the committee at the appropriate time."

Martin largely refused to accept any blame for the arrest but conceded that "the house through its Speaker was not served as well as it ought to have been".

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