Tory anger over ‘grooming’ claim

Senior Conservatives are angry after it was revealed that police who arrested shadow immigration minister Damian Green on Thursday last week, accused him of "grooming" a Home Office mole who leaked information.

Green was arrested by counter-terrorism officers and questioned for nine hours after he published leaked Government documents. He reacted angrily on his realease, saying he was being persecuted for doing his job.

When police questioned Green they are said to have claimed to him that he had not "simply received leaked" information but "groomed" a civil servant who had allegedly passed him 20 secret documents.

MPs from all parties have condemned the arrest, though many are said to be dissatisfied with home secretary Jacqui Smith's response.