The 26-year-old official who was arrested for passing unclassified information to the Tories broke his silence on Monday through his lawyer to criticise the “unpleasant” and “unnecessary” action by the police.

Christopher Galley, a junior Home Office civil servant, did not speak at a press conference organised by Bindmans, the law firm, because he is the subject of a live police investigation. He is on bail to return to the police for further questions in January.