Police Arrest of a Tory MP

[Hennessy]

Must say that I thought the degradation of our democracy would warrant at least a thread on the sinner. What's the verdict, what happened was certainly wrong but how did the system allow it? Surely the greatest controversy is over the incumbent Speaker, Michael Martin, who seems to have survived again and again exposes of his own corruption & bias merely by citing his class and background.

It's a disgrace anyway, that a member of Parliament recieving sensitive information from a civil servant employed in the service of the Government could be treated in such a way. It violates parliamentary privelege on such matters, as a serving representative of the people was treated like a terrorist for obtaining such information. And yet without such information the Opposition would be essentially handicapped in challenging the Government on any sensitive issues.

[Eliot Wilson]

Before we all get very excited and (perhaps) confused, let me offer the definition of Parliamentary privilege, so that people know whereof they speak:

"Parliamentary privilege is the sum of the peculiar rights enjoyed by each House collectively as a constituent part of the High Court of Parliament, and by Members of each House individually, without which they could not discharge their functions, and which exceed those possessed by other bodies or individuals. Thus privilege, though part of the law of the land, is to a certain extent an exemption from the general law. Certain rights and immunities such as freedom from arrest or freedom of speech belong primarily to individual Members of each House and exist because the House cannot perform its functions without unimpeded use of the services of its Members [...] Fundamentally, however, it is only as a means to the effective discharge of the collective functions of the House that the individual privileges are enjoyed by Members." (Erskine May's Treatise on the Law, Privileges, Proceedings and Usage of Parliament, Twenty-Third Edition, ed. Sir William McKay, 2004)

[Duggeh]

[Guest]

Get back to 4chan /b/tard

[LonelyPilgrim]

Wait, what? Members of Parliament are immune to arrest? Seriously?*

(*goes to update career aspirations...)

[Guest]

Must say that I thought the degradation of our democracy would warrant at least a thread on the sinner. What's the verdict, what happened was certainly wrong but how did the system allow it? Surely the greatest controversy is over the incumbent Speaker, Michael Martin, who seems to have survived again and again exposes of his own corruption & bias merely by citing his class and background.

It's a disgrace anyway, that a member of Parliament recieving sensitive information from a civil servant employed in the service of the Government could be treated in such a way. It violates parliamentary privelege on such matters, as a serving representative of the people was treated like a terrorist for obtaining such information. And yet without such information the Opposition would be essentially handicapped in challenging the Government on any sensitive issues.

Shows the extent to which Labour are prepared to abuse their position and how useless the current speaker is.

At least when labour loose the next election he will be out as none of the oposition parties have faith in him.

The point has been made that if this were to happen in Zimbabwe there would be international comdemnation including the British Foreign Office, yet not when it's the UK government.

[Lid]

Wait, what? Members of Parliament are immune to arrest? Seriously?

It's only really the same as diplomatic immunity, which is something I enjoy (albeit a milder version thereof). It's brilliant.

[Guest]

The point has been made that if this were to happen in Zimbabwe there would be international comdemnation including the British Foreign Office, yet not when it's the UK government.

You sound like the Scottish nationalists who claim it's like North Korea in this country because the Herald and Scotsman have a pro-Union bias

[LonelyPilgrim]

Shows the extent to which Labour are prepared to abuse their position and how useless the current speaker is.

At least when labour loose the next election he will be out as none of the oposition parties have faith in him.

The point has been made that if this were to happen in Zimbabwe there would be international comdemnation including the British Foreign Office, yet not when it's the UK government.

Really? Seriously? The difference is that in this case, I've no doubt the reaction of the police, ultimately, was to apologise profusely, and possibly offer a conciliatory cup of tea to the poor MP. In Zimbabwe, on the other hand, the fellow would never be seen again, at least not before his testicles were burnt off with car jump cables and a battery.