Britain’s top antiterror police chief was at the centre of an extraordinary row last night after accusing the “Tory machinery” of seeking to undermine the Damian Green investigation.

Bob Quick, the Metropolitan Police Assistant Commissioner in charge of specialist operations and counter-terrorism, claimed that the Conservatives and their supporters were “mobilised” against the investigation “in a wholly corrupt way”.

Although Mr Quick later retracted the claim of corruption, the outburst led senior Conservatives to question the judgment of the man in charge of the Green inquiry.

The senior policeman made his remarks when contacted by a reporter while moving his family after The Mail on Sunday published details about a wedding car-hire business run by his wife from their home.

The business employs former police officers as chauffeurs of a fleet of vintage Rolls-Royces. Promotional material for the company includes photographs of the cars parked on Mr Quick’s driveway which, it was suggested, could compromise his safety.

Mr Quick said: “It is an attempt to undermine an investigation which is legitimate. The Tory machinery and their press friends are mobilised against this investigation in a wholly corrupt way and I feel very disappointed in the country I am living in.”

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “The Conservative Party played no part whatsoever in the publication of this story. Assistant Commissioner Quick’s claims of corruption and intimidation are absurd and wholly untrue.”

As head of the Home Office leaks investigation, Mr Quick approved the controversial arrest of Mr Green, the Tory immigration spokesman, and the raid on his parliamentary office on November 27.

The Tories argue that Mr Green – who denies breaking the law and has not been charged – was simply doing his job in holding the Government to account by releasing information in the public interest.

Mr Quick, who recently failed to be shortlisted for the job of commissioner, has cut an increasingly isolated figure within Scotland Yard of late.

An internal report raised questions over whether the manner of Mr Green’s arrest was proportionate and informed sources believe that the inquiry will be abandoned in the new year. Several hours after making his initial remarks to the Press Association, Mr Quick issued a statement through the Metropolitan Police press bureau.

“I regret and wish to retract my comment regarding corruption,” he said. “The comment was made as I was in the act of having to move my family out of our home to a place of safety.”

The Conservatives demanded that Mr Quick retract all his allegations, including that they had sought to intimidate him from investigating Mr Green.

“As the officer leading the inquiry into the allegations involving Damian Green, Assistant Commissioner Quick should display objective professionalism and not make baseless, political attacks. He should retract all of his allegations immediately.”

Senior Conservatives said that they would be raising questions over Mr Quick’s judgment, but it was not clear whether the party would now press for his removal from the investigation.

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