International Law

Exactly what correspondence or communications between MPs and their Constituents is protected by Parliamentary Privilege ?

The House of Commons, collectively, and, the Speaker of the Commons in particular, is failing to make clear to the public, exactly what correspondence and communications , including electronic communications, between a Member of Parliament and his or her Constituents, or other MPs or whistleblowers, is protected under Parliamentary Privilege.

The latest Statement by the Speaker and the subsequent Points of Order on Thursday 5th February 2009, seem to show that Speaker Michael Martin has, failed yet again, to bother ask an MP for his side of the story in private, before issuing a public statement, which seems to take the side of the Police and the Executive branch of Government.

The Speaker of the House of Commons and his staff should be protecting the rights of MP's Constituents from the Executive branch of Government and its attempts to cover up up various politically embarrassing whistleblower revelations, and not aiding and abetting them.

Why has none of this been referred to the Standards and Privileges Committee ?

[Permanent links to Hansard when they are published in a few hours time]:

Full post as published by Spy Blog on February 05, 2009 (boomark / email).