The Speaker has announced that with a Warrant from Preston Crown Court, he allowed a Member’s office to be searched.

“I wish to report to the House that the rooms of a Member were searched yesterday pursuant to a warrant issued by the Circuit Judge in Preston Crown Court on 16 May. The warrant related to the investigation of a serious arrestable offence.

I should remind Members, as did my predecessor in 2008, that the precincts of Parliament are not a haven from the law. In accordance with the Protocol issued by my predecessor on 8 December 2008 on the execution of search warrants within the precincts of the House of Commons, I considered the warrant personally and was advised by Officers of the House that there were no lawful grounds on which it would be proper to refuse its execution.

In addition, as provided for in paragraph 6 of the Protocol, I consulted the Attorney General and the Solicitor General who concurred in this advice. I am very grateful to them. The Clerk of the House was kept fully informed throughout, and also concurred.

The Serjeant at Arms and Speaker’s Counsel were present when the search was conducted. Undertakings have been given by the police officers as to the handling of any Parliamentary material until such time as any issue of privilege is resolved.

The investigation is continuing and it would not be right to comment further. I will not take questions on my statement.”

Nigel Evans was arrested and held at Preston Police Station at the beginning of the month…

Released this morning after serving eight weeks of an eight month sentence.

Some good news to end the week on: police have handed a file of evidence against Denis MacShane to the CPS.

Decision time…

Read all Guido’s stories on expenses cheat MacShane here.

BREAKING Met Police have now launched formal investigation into allegations of inappropriate behaviour by Lib Dem peer Lord Rennard—
Cathy Newman (@cathynewman) April 23, 2013

Developing…

Our understanding is that the Metropolitan Police are investigating two complaints from victims who have come forward – we have had the names for some time.

Huhne has some nerve, offering to cough up just £25,000 of the £110,000 asked for by the prosecution in legal costs. Given that his lies cost the taxpayer over £300,000, once again Huhne is sticking two fingers up at those he used to represent. Guido hopes he enjoys his day out from prison…

UPDATE: Huhne and Pryce are expected to be released after two months, with Pryce being let out on May 12 having served just a quarter of her sentence.

UPDATE II: Huhne could be out as soon as May 13.

UPDATE III: The following may be reported:

“In the course of the submissions made on behalf of Christopher Huhne that he should not be responsible for the entirety of the prosecutions costs application against him, the court was referred to the applications he made for witness summonses that resulted in documentation relating to Constance Briscoe coming to light, which led to allegations being made against her.”

Welsh LibDem councillor John Larsen has been charged with being responsible for a series of bombs that have blown up cars and damaged homes in his town over an eight week period. Just last week Larsen had condemned the bomber: “Everyone is jittery, checking their cars. It’s driving people round the bend. You just don’t know when or where it’s going to happen next and that’s why people are so frightened”, only to be arrested himself on Friday. Extraordinary…

As revealed by Guido in yesterday’s Sun on Sunday column, taxpayers are paying the price for a spate of thefts across Westminster. 24 top-of-the-range laptops have been stolen from parliament and Whitehall departments in the last year, with three more lost and dozens of iPads and BlackBerries either lost or lifted by light-fingered crims. Worryingly 527 parliamentary passes and 33 departmental passes allowing holders total access to the corridors of power have also gone missing, along with laptop encryption keys and security devices. The total cost to the taxpayer to replace all lost or stolen items has reached nearly £35,000. Confirmation of what we always suspected, parliament is full of thieves…

In yesterday’s Sun column Guido revealed that police guarding the checkpoints at entrances to Parliament have confiscated 641 knives from visitors in the first two months of this year, an average of more than ten a day. Lock knives, flick knives and Swiss army knives were among those found, so much for Dave’s promise to lock up anyone carrying a blade. Some of the more crazy and kinky items confiscated include bungee jumping equipment, stilts, footballs, a hockey stick, and fluffy handcuffs. The 43 people who tried to take whisky, vodka and wine in should have saved their money and taken advantage of Parliament’s subsidised booze instead…

Via ITV.