The House yesterday debated the report from the Joint Committee on Parliamentary Privilege. I was one of those who spoke in the debate. (You can read the speech here.) The report was a measured and helpful report, arguing against having a statutory codification of privilege and instead putting the case for flexibility. It made a number…
As many students of Parliament – and certainly those who work within the institution – will know, the libraries of both Houses produce some excellent research papers and briefing notes. Those interested in obtaining some objective and invaluable background information on the issue of parliamentary privilege – which has come to the fore in the…
Not surprisingly, given developments in the House of Commons, one question frequently asked in conversations in the Lords today was: what would be the position if the police sought to enter a peer’s office in the House of Lords? The positions in the two Houses are not identical. The House of Lords is a self-regulating House and…
I was surprised to see a comment on another blog which appeared to suggest that peers enjoy immunity from prosecution. Some members of other legislatures do enjoy significant legal immunity, but parliamentarians in the UK do not. Parliamentary privilege exists to protect parliamentarians in the fulfilment of their parliamentary duties. Speeches made in the course of…
