House of Commons enraged by police raid

LONDON, Dec. 4 (UPI) -- British officials said during a House of Commons meeting that a Scotland Yard raid of a opposition member's parliamentary office was unwarranted.

The New York Times said Thursday that members of the House of Commons were in an uproar over last week's raid, which targeted British Conservative Party chief immigration spokesman Damian Green.

The 52-year-old opposition official spoke out against Scotland Yard's actions during Wednesday's Commons gathering, drawing cheers from Commons members.

"Let me make it absolutely clear that I believe that members of Parliament are not above the law," Green said, "and that those who have the real power in this country, ministers, senior civil servants and the police, are also not beyond the law."

The police raid was aimed at obtaining any information about an alleged leak of Home Office immigration mistakes. Christopher Galley, aide to Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, has allegedly admitted passing along such information to Green. Police officials allege the leak endangered national security.

The Times said police seized a computer and various filed from Green's office in the raid, while also searching his apartment and arresting the Conservative Party member.