I think I can safely say that no Australian government would survive the arrest of an opposition MP for digging in politically sensitive ground. I trust we will soon see the back of Mr Brown.

John Francis, Lauderdale, Tasmania, Australia

The Lisbon treaty makes the EU the UKs primary law maker so making the HOC redundant, along with MPs. As the government endorsed the treaty and expect it to come into force who cares about MPs? They will be history soon so arresting them for honesty will be the norm. We cannot expect the EU to care.

R Mason, London, UK

The Serjeant at Arms did not think to ask for a warrant and when she informed the Speaker, he did not even ask her why she failed to ask for a warrant. So both were ignorant of this fundamental law in the very place where our laws are made!

Pathetic! Both should go immediately.

David Moon, Seaford, UK

Govt keeps going on about police operational independance. What about when the government closed the investigaton into the BAE bribery affair?

Adrian, london,

The acting Commisioner of The Met has stated that MP's are not above the law and nor is he or his Police force.
Having now broken the law himself in making an illegal search of Damian Green's office in the House of Commons, can we now expect a 20 man anti terrorism raid on his office.

Alan Hart, Horsham, England

Listening to the Speaker's statement left me with the distinct impression of a monosyllabic second rate actor reading his lines whilst trying to grasp their portent at the same time. It is blatantly obvious the arrest was politically motivated and the police themselves now need a good turning over.

rob, Ipswich,

How can Speaker Martin get out from this, he virtually drove the previous experienced Sergeant at arms out of office and give the job to a numpty at a much reduced salary, presumably to make up for some of the money he has wasted in litigation.
Most decent superiors take resonsibility, not Martin.

KW, Bognor Regis, England

The information leaked by Mr Green was information the public should have a right to know.
Embarassing the Govenment is not a criminal offence, but arguably a civic duty.
The failure of the Speaker to protect the integrity of the House is a scandal and a disgrace to our Parliamentary Democracy.

BrummyDoug, Birmingham, England

Amazing ! In these days of Blackberrys,satellite phones and personal cell phones,the Prime Minister,Home Secretary,Speaker , top brass of the Metropolitan police and the Serjeant -at -Arms didn't bother to contact each other when the police raided the House of Commons.

Peter, Manchester, England

Nick P, I think you are mistaken. Shoplifters(amongst others) have had their houses etc searched under the PACE legislation since the Act became effective.

Edward Johns, Lannion, France

Nick P,
here is the relevant section of the PACE Act of 1984 :
Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 Section 18
Section 18 permits a constable to enter and search any premises occupied or controlled by a person who is under arrest for an arrestable offence if he has reasonable grounds for suspecting there is on the premises, other than items subject to legal privilege, that relates to that offence or some other arrestable offence connected with or similar to that offence.

Edward Johns, Lannion, France

Whos SCRIPT was Martin reading...not His for sure...he hadnt got a clue HOW to read it....BRING BACK BETTY !

Tony, Derby, UK

finally we have a prime minister with integrity and the tories don't like it. their squealing is a terrible way of covering up their own errors of judgement.

annabel, thirsk, england

Is this or could this be Britains Watergate ?

ian payne, walsall,

Martin is just the bloke to turn to when you need support, some hope, the buck stops where?

Dave Madley, Alicante, Spain

Brown is still weasling about the operational independence of the police - even when they have acted illegally? And will the police be accountable for their error? Some hope, there is no accountability in the UK anymore.

William, Guildford, UK

I knew the buck would be passed.
I think everyone did really didn't we?

Phill , Cheshire, UK

Was any material protectively marked and therefore subject to the official secrets act? Did any one conspire to obtain information? Was there ever a conspiracy to disclose? Is the original disclosure portected under the Whistleblowers Act 1994?

l reynolds, london, england

Mr Martin is the right man to ensure that Parliament is protected in future. He has been landed in it by the fly actions of the police. The Sergeant at Arms might have been more robust, but we normally think of cooperating with the police as a good thing.

Charles Darley, Helensburgh,

There's no smoke without fire!
Plainly he was up to something which was outside the normal run of play!
He's got caught, got slapped, and that's an end of it!
Don't do it again , you naughty Tory Boy!

Bill Armstrong , Hatta, UAE

Presumably, no one expected the Speaker to accept any responibility, did nthey?

Robert, Hull, UK

Tim - If you want the police to come to your house without a warrant, remove your PC, mobile phone, arrest you and interrogate you just because they wish to, you can always move to Zimbabwe - The UK does have rules that are supposed to protect citizens from this kind of unauthorized police action

WTaylor, London, UK

To Edward Johns, only if the case involves a “serious criminal offence” which however you look at it this is not.
Even the last director of public prosecutions says that this is not even a criminal case but a civil one and should have been dealt with internally by the civil service.

Nick P, London, UK

The bottom line is that the buck stops with the Speaker for the actions of his deputy.

He should resign.

Andrew-O, Northants, United Kingdom

Anyone of Honour would resign.

Chris, London,

"An MP risking the national security would be a disgrace." Yes, and your point is. This had nothing to do with National Security as Martin well knows and any such insinuation should be vigorously countered. Martin appointed an incompetent underling and as such, should be held accountable.

Jim Hendry, slatina, romania

No apology?

Jill Pay must go. She singularly failed in her primary responsibility.

I just don't see a retired General or Admiral (the traditional holders of the post of Sergeant at Arms) caving in to police demands so easily.

We still have not seen the whole truth of this matter!

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

I'm still not clear why the police were involved in the first place. Peter Mandelson tried to make the point that there was collussion. If there was, is collussion on a non criminal act a crime?

Can bosses now call in the police for breaches of confidentiality where there's collussion?

John Goode, Welwyn Garden City, UK

Why should a warrant be necessary ? Surely the power to search comes from the Police and Criminal Evidence Act, consequent on the arrest.

Edward Johns, Lannion, France

Typical Labour. Blame the underlings.

Sarah, Surrey, UK

it appears that this goverment mananges to bounce the blaim on to some faceless or nameless person every time they are at fault,its been done by all the blairs & his ministers also his spin doctors,labour have no credibility at all they have damaged this countrys democracy to a dangerless level

graham smith, welling, england

Why does the Speaker decide what the Police do?

Surely the Police should decide what the Police do, anything else is blatantly interfering with the process of justice..?

Tim, London,