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Wearside Tory in link to Home Office leak probe
A former Wearside council candidate is believed to have been suspended from his Home Office post as part of the investigation into the arrest of a top Tory.
Christopher Galley, who once stood as a Conservative candidate in elections for Sunderland City Council, is thought to be at the centre of the probe into the alleged leaking of Government secrets to shadow minister Damian Green.
Mr Green was arrested last week and quizzed for nine hours by police.
They arrested him after in connection with the publishing of Home Office figures showing 5,000 illegal immigrants had been cleared to work as security guards.
It is alleged this information came from Mr Galley, 26, who works as a 25,000-a-year assistant private secretary at the Home Office.
Mr Galley, who now lives in London, grew up in East Rainton with his parents Alan, 56, mum Elizabeth, 55, and brother Philip, 23.
Outside the family home, Alan said: "We do not want to talk about this."
Mr Galley polled 676 votes when he stood as the sole Conservative candidate in the Hetton ward in 2004, coming fifth.
Labour Councillor Florence Anderson, one of his opponents, said: "I remember his name but he didn't stand out.
"He didn't do any work or do any leaflets that I knew of."
Mr Galley's election agent David Wilson said: "He did stand for us in 2004 but I haven't seen him in years."
Mr Galley is understood to have been working for the Home Office for four years, although it is not known whether he was working for the civil service at the time of the council elections.
Even if he was, there would be nothing to stop him standing, although he would have to ask permission from senior management.
Mr Galley has been suspended from his job and is currently believed to be housed in a secret Home Office safe house.
His home in Feltham, West London, was deserted at the weekend.
Union officials said that if found guilty of leaking information, Mr Galley would be sacked for being in breach of his employment contract and the Official Secrets Act.
A police spokeswoman confirmed a 26-year-old man had been arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office, and that he had been bailed to return to a central London police station in January.
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Thursday 09 February 2012
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