Smith knew she must go

neil, almere, holland

Why jump to conclusions.Let the police complete the investigation,that is how the UK justice system works.Perhaps in the future when Boris and Cameron rule we will not have a political independent police force but to date this is how the system works independent of political control.

Bill Rees, Falmouth, Uk

The question is whether Damian Green developed a relationship with this civil servant and encouraged / pursued him to break the law. Perhaps also promising employment or something else in return. If this was just another leaked document then perhaps the police would have acted differently.

mark, stourbridge, uk

This mess made my mind up - I joined the COnservative party on Friday morning - we can't allow this country to become a police state run for the benefit of those in power. Using anti-terrorist legislation in this way is just scary. I'll never vote for Labour while Brown, Darling & Smith are around.

Ross , Ripon, UK

So would we send those involved in Watergate to Guantonimo bay rather than find out the truth about tricky Dickey? Leaking documents is normal part of the democratic process. This is very disturbing

Reece, Melb, Aust

Why didn't T Bliar get his collar felt?
Oh I see it's only the opposition who are guilty.
THAT'S WHAT THEY'RE FOR.

Different when Gordun was using 'leaks' to his advantage, or were they different types of 'leak'?

Rob bain, Derby,

We don't know the facts yet but the media is already condemning the police with a single voice:they would wouldn't they?

But there is a huge difference,for example, between a civil servant leaking data which shocks them and someone seeking a post - or being planted - solely in order to leak.

JOHN, SHEFFIELD ,

MPs should not be above the Law. There is no smoke without fire and all that. Green should just grin and bear it since a non-MP would not have been defended so outrageously in the self interest of party politics. the whole affair of the mole and him is very dodgy indeed.

mac, Manchester, UK

the government is protecting secrets that are an Enigma Wrapped in a Paradox and don't have the will to disclose anything that don't serve the "national interest" what ever they decide this week what 'National interest' actually is.

Steven, Exeter, UK

The Police have lost their way. If you listen to Priministers questions, Never does Gordon Brown ever answer a question. As Cameron said "asking questions you never answer - What ever good that is? But the opposition party has to obtain information from where ever. What is secret about imigration?

Bar, Bagshot, UK

One of the most worrying aspects of this whole episode is that a 26 year old has access to what is apparently information that is vital to the safety of the nation.

JRK, Loughborough, UK

Maybe we could have the facts before commenting?

Adam, London, England

The important bit that is being missed is that Jackie Smith was trying to hide information that should have rightly been in the public domain.

Her duty and her job demanded this information was available to all. Against all principles of our system of government she was trying to hide what everyone without exception had the right to know.

Ian Bryan, Reading, UK

I always thought it was "the loyal opposition" with loyal=Queen not Labour!

Richard, London,

Gordon Brown's leaks when he was an young MP were only tiny leaks not great big leaks - Home secretary says now- This government surely cannot get any lower - it sees party advantage as national interest.

The last time government forces entered parliament we had a civil war - wtach this space

Phil1, Edinburgh, UK

This is the final straw for my family. We have made a pact to NEVER vote Labour again.

David, Newcastle,

What are Labour so worried about? Something obviously. This government is becoming more communist by the day.

AAB, London,

the home office will only obtain 100% loyalty from it's civil servants if it first earns their respect which it obviously has not done.

philip smith, seaford,

Will the leaking of financially sensitive information by Labour to the BBC's Robert Peston, which resulted in the collapse in the value of certain banks, and a collapse in the overall stock market which severely undermined our economy also be investigated??

JC, Bournemouth, UK

Zanu labour are living up to their name.

ronnie, Bridego Bridge, UK

Is Carrie right? Does she know something? Is the Queen to be arrested on Wednesday? Is Carrie safe now?

Bob, Lincoln, UK

what about the leaked pre budget report?. or are some leaks more equal than other leaks?

Pete M, Hull, UK

Is 'embarrassing' Smith, and showing the incompetence of the government, now a 'terrorist' offence??

LB, Birmingham, UK

I find it all very unbelievable. That Jackie Smith did not know, nor Gordon Brown, that this arrest was taking place. Yet Cameron and Boris Johnson were informed!!!

Speaker Martin should resign. What next, the Queen arrested on Wednesday??

Carrie, London,

John in Banbury, Clive Ponting was passing on an entirely different kind of information, that of defence intelligence.

m b, queenstown, new zealand

Why such a fuss? Hundreds of people, guilty or not, are arrested daily, their homes and offices searched, and their DNA placed on permanent record regardless of the ourcome of the case. Are MP's immune from police investigation? Or is it simply that some hard truths are to be revealed?

Stuart Dickson, Palma Mallorca, Spain

"In a welter of briefings from the police, ministers, civil servants and Commons officials"

Ironically isn't briefing just another word for leaking?

Peter , Wantage, UK

When civil servant Clive Ponting passed documents to a Labour MP in the 1980s, the Tory government of the day tried to have both of them convicted. When they couldn't, they changed the official secrets act to make what had happened an offence. Now they are hoist on their own petard.

John, Banbury, Oxfordshire,

If the police officer responsible for arresting a shadow minister and searching his home and office did not advise the Home Secretary of the proposed action he should not be in the job and the Home Secretary who allows the Anti Terrorist branch to be used to raid the MP should not be in the job.

Nigel, Shepshed, England