Sir Gus surprised at MP's arrest

Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell defended the decision to call the police

The head of the civil service has said he was surprised when police arrested senior Tory Damian Green as part of a Home Office leaks investigation.

Sir Gus O'Donnell told MPs he was solely concerned about stopping the leaks, not where the probe would go.

He insisted police were called because of national security fears, not because leaks were politically embarrassing.

He said ex-shadow home secretary David Davis had said half the material they received was too sensitive to publish.