Mob Rule, OK?

Hmm.

I hardly imagine that it will be popular, but I rather think that the three MPs and the peer accused of malfeasance are actually right. For 'Parliamentary Privilege' must have to do with more than the protection of MPs against suits in Defamation, notwithstanding that it is in that specific sense that it has most commonly been invoked and understood in recent years. Parliamentarians ought to decide their own affairs and police their own behaviour, for if they have not the courage to do that, and if they cannot be trusted to do that, they cannot be trusted to do anything.

Do not mistake me.
It is clearly the case that MPs have allowed themselves, and foolishly, to slip into a poor way of using their expenses system to make up for the Government's failure - beginning in the time of Mrs. Thatcher - to set appropriate rates of pay. And it is clear that some members have indeed stretched that system, and some have seriously abused it.

But I have in mind two things. One, that unless MPs are paid a reasonable working salary, as Lord Faulkner observed yesterday and many have pointed out over the years, you will end up with a poor democracy in which only the wealthy can afford to stand for election. The second is that Parliament should have the guts to police its own behaviour.

I do believe that the MPs should have the right to claim immunity under Parliamentary Privilege, from trial in the courts: but they should not have the right to immunity from trial by their 'Peers' in the House of Commons for their misdeeds.

You may think this is a "nice" point, but it is important for it will be a great loss to our nation if Parliament allows itself to be deprived of its Members' rights because of public embarrassment. That is a poor way of government, for the public have a right to have their say, every few years (if they can be bothered, which most of the idle sods don't seem able to manage). This is actually just mob rule. If we worked by such means, Capital Punishment would be restored tomorrow.....

It seems to me a great shame on both their Houses, that Peers and MPs alike are afraid to stand against Mob rule, in defence of the rights of our democracy, which it has taken our Fathers years, remember, and blood, sweat and tears, to win.

But then the cheap way out has always been to muddle through, do little, and fling a few scapegoats to the Mob..........

It's not Democracy. It may be 'popular', but its really cowardice.