A security flaw in parliament could have allowed pornography to be placed on Damian Green’s computer without his involvement, John Bercow’s deputy has warned.
Eleanor Laing, deputy speaker of the Commons, has revealed that her office assistant found pornographic images had been put on her computer without her knowledge ‘every day’ when working in parliament before 2010.
The source of the images was never found. But allies of Mr Green believe lax cyber-security at the Commons a decade ago could explain police claims that they found ‘thousands’ of pornographic pictures on his computer during a botched raid on his office in 2008.
Eleanor Laing has revealed that her office assistant found pornographic images had been put on her computer without her knowledge ‘every day’ when working in parliament before 2010
Damian Green is battling to save his career after police claimed that they found ‘thousands’ of pornographic pictures on his computer during a botched raid on his office in 2008
In a letter to Mr Green, a copy of which has been seen by the Daily Mail, Mrs Laing says it was clearly possible at the time for pornography to find its way onto parliamentary computers without the knowledge of the user. She said this appeared to be ‘relevant’ to Mr Green’s case.
In the letter, dated November 14, which has been passed to the Cabinet Office investigation into Mr Green’s conduct, she states: ‘A member of my parliamentary staff has told me that, several years ago, before we had effective screening of our parliamentary computers, she used to find pornographic images on her computer every morning when she switched it on.
‘She was certainly not accessing pornographic sites deliberately or even accidentally. The material was just there on her computer every day. She simply deleted it. This happened before 2010.
‘Thus, it would appear that material found in the parliamentary computer system can be proved to have been put there by some other means than by the deliberate actions of the person operating the computer.’
Mrs Laing’s intervention came as Cabinet splits emerged over how Theresa May should respond to claims about Mr Green’s conduct.
Education Secretary Justine Greening yesterday suggested he should be sacked if a Cabinet Office inquiry concludes that pornography was found on his computer.
Asked whether it was okay for people to view pornography at work, she said: ‘I don’t think that’s acceptable…’
Former detective Neil Lewis (pictured), 48, is at the centre of an urgent Scotland Yard anti-corruption probe after accusing Theresa May’s deputy of lying
She declined to comment directly on the investigation into Mr Green, but added: ‘I think it is important that we have high standards in public life.’
Mrs May’s influential chief-of-staff, Gavin Barwell, is also said to be urging Mr Green to resign rather than cause any more embarrassment for the government. But other senior Tories weighed in behind Mr Green as he battles to save his career.
Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said he had no doubt Mr Green was telling the truth. Referring to a previous inquiry into his own conduct, he told ITV: ‘I do have confidence in Damian Green and I have actually been in the situation Damian Green was in, where… everyone thinks you’ve done an absolutely terrible thing and what I learnt from that is that you have to wait until an investigation is completed.
The pornography claims were first made last month by former police chief Bob Quick, who ordered the controversial raid on Mr Green’s Commons office in 2008
‘And I was vindicated at the end of that process in my own case… I know Damian Green as a colleague and I trust him absolutely and that’s why I believe what he says, but there is an investigation… and I think… we should wait.’
Brexit Secretary David Davis has also warned Mrs May not to sack Mr Green – and suggested he could even resign himself if his colleague is ousted as a result of a vendetta by former police officers.
Mr Green has been under investigation for a month over disputed claims that he made unwanted advances towards Tory activist Kate Maltby, who is 30 years his junior.
But Sue Gray, director of ethics and propriety at the Cabinet Office, has also questioned him over the claims about pornography, which he denies.
The claims were first made last month by former police chief Bob Quick, who ordered the controversial raid on Mr Green’s Commons office in 2008.
He was backed up on Friday by another former Scotland Yard detective Neil Lewis, who said he had no doubt that Mr Green himself had downloaded the pornography, which he said ran to ‘thousands’ of images.
Mr Green responded: ‘I have maintained all along and I still maintain – it is the truth – that I did not download or look at pornography on my computer, but obviously while the investigation is going on I can’t say any more.’
Miss Gray has interviewed a string of staff who have worked with Mr Green during his five years as a minister. This process is not thought to have thrown up any further allegations of impropriety. Her report is due to go to Mrs May for a decision in the coming days.