Damian Green’s Quick Porn Blowback

Theresa May must have been hoping that what looked like better news for her deputy Damian Green - that Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick had passed adverse comment on former cops Bob Quick and Neil Lewis over their contributions to revelations about what was on Green’s workplace computer in 2008 - would herald an end to all those inconvenient calls for Green to follow Michael Fallon out the door.

That's right Sir, both hands where we can see them

After all, when the report on the “porngate” affair landed on the PM’s desk, she could take her time interpreting it, apply a little judicious spin, and after a little gentle admonishment, it would be no more Damian Grope, and the First Secretary of State would have a clean bill of health. Sadly, it is not going to work out that way, and the reason for that is down to Green’s lack of restraint in responding to the porn claims.

The Independent was characteristically quick off the mark to tell its viewers and readers “Ex-police chief Bob Quick considering legal action against Damian Green for 'deeply hurtful' attempts to discredit him … First Secretary of State 'called me a liar - that is completely untrue', says Bob Quick”. You never, but never, but NEVER call a cop a liar if he’s got evidence showing he isn’t - and Neil Lewis has That Notebook.

Ominously, the Indy report continues “In a statement issued by his solicitors, Mr Quick called on Mr Green publicly to retract allegations that he had lied about the ‘vast amount’ of pornography discovered on the MP's personal computer … Mr Quick, who oversaw a raid on Mr Green's Westminster office in 2008, said everything he had said about the case was ‘accurate, in good faith, and in the firm belief that I have acted in the public interest’”.

Now then Sir, I would like you to accompany me ... to the libel court

Worse for Green is that the staff at the Murdoch Sunday Times, who broke this story recently, did not just rely on Quick, with political editor Tim Shipman telling “The Sunday Times is not relying on the testimony of Bob Quick. Our reporters have also spoken to another Police source who saw the porn … We have multiple sources and would not have run it unless we had”. Quick appears to have gone by the book in his actions, too.

As the Guardian has reported, Quick has claimed “In view of … the present Cabinet Office investigation into Damian Green, I contacted Sue Gray [at the Cabinet Office, who is leading the Inquiry into Green’s conduct] in early November 2017 … Following Mr Green’s deeply unpleasant and personal attack upon me, I was contacted by Neil Lewis, who had undertaken the interrogation of Mr Green’s hard drive in 2008 … I reported Mr Lewis’s contact and the evidence he was able to provide to Sue Gray on 6 November 2017”.

The concluding remark is equally telling: “I invite Damian Green publicly to retract his allegations against me. I am considering legal action”. It will be equally interesting to see how many of those free and fearless pundits are prepared to carry on slagging Quick off, or whether they and their papers now have second thoughts.

And remember, there is at least one seriously unpleasant and embarrassing story coming down the track at Damian Green that is unrelated to the porn row. I know Theresa May is busy with Brexit right now, but she might be wise to pencil in another mini-reshuffle.