No Brainer
The attempts of three former Labour MPs - David Chaytor, Jim Devine and Elliot Morley - to avoid facing charges in the criminal courts over their MPs' expenses - is the height of nonsense.
The law defending freedom of speech in Parliament has a clear purpose - and sensible intention.
In days gone by, the law aimed to protect MPs from being bullied and bludgeoned into silence - by wealthy individuals or organisations that could threaten a 'tribune of the people' - with the legal and potentially costly consequences of speaking out.
Thereby preventing MPs from doing their jobs properly - part of which is to expose any obvious wrongdoing - and to draw this to the attention of the relevant authorities.
But the law was never intended to prevent MPs from having to abide by the same rules that apply to everyone else.
The issue is such a 'no brainer' - because the MPs' freedom of speech is not being called into question - only their behaviour - and that should be subject to the same scrutiny under the criminal law as every other citizen.
What a palaver - and complete waste of public money.
The law defending freedom of speech in Parliament has a clear purpose - and sensible intention.
In days gone by, the law aimed to protect MPs from being bullied and bludgeoned into silence - by wealthy individuals or organisations that could threaten a 'tribune of the people' - with the legal and potentially costly consequences of speaking out.
Thereby preventing MPs from doing their jobs properly - part of which is to expose any obvious wrongdoing - and to draw this to the attention of the relevant authorities.
But the law was never intended to prevent MPs from having to abide by the same rules that apply to everyone else.
The issue is such a 'no brainer' - because the MPs' freedom of speech is not being called into question - only their behaviour - and that should be subject to the same scrutiny under the criminal law as every other citizen.
What a palaver - and complete waste of public money.
