Freedom of Speech…for MPs

Posted on | December 7, 2009 | 2 Comments

Who cares about the common man’s freedom of speech being stifled by the world’s worst libel law when you have granted yourself immunity from it through parliamentary privilege? It was a similar story with draconian and disturbingly far-ranging anti-terrorist laws that were all very well up until an MP was arrested in his office (Damien Green MP) or bugged while visiting a prison inmate (Sadiq Khan MP). Then – suddenly – MPs had second thoughts about the totalitarian culture they had nurtured.

Heather Brooke comments on a Guardian piece today on legal advice give to John Bercow, the Speaker, on the status of so-called ‘Super-Injunctions’.

Heather notes the historic tradition:

….whereby MPs don’t give a fig about the invasion of our privacy, civil liberties or freedom of speech up until they find their own affected.

Heather was recently given the deserved accolade of Reformer of the Year from the think tank, Reform – for doing the really hard work on the MPs’ expenses scandal before the Telegraph chanced along and stole her limelight.

Technorati Tags: heather brooke, censorship, super injunctions, MPs

Category: censorship, ethics, freedom, law, politics, principle

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2 Responses to “Freedom of Speech…for MPs”

Twitter Trackbacks for Freedom of Speech…for MPs : John Connell: The Blog [johnconnell.co.uk] on Topsy.com
December 7th, 2009 @ 10:29 pm

[...] Freedom of Speech…for MPs : John Connell: The Blog http://www.johnconnell.co.uk/blog/?p=2335 – view page – cached Who cares about the common man’s freedom of speech being stifled by the world’s worst libel law when you have granted yourself immunity from it through parliamentary privilege? It was a similar… Read moreWho cares about the common man’s freedom of speech being stifled by the world’s worst libel law when you have granted yourself immunity from it through parliamentary privilege? It was a similar story with draconian and disturbingly far-ranging anti-terrorist laws that were all very well up until an MP was arrested in his office (Damien Green MP) or bugged while visiting a prison inmate (Sadiq Khan MP). Then – suddenly – MPs had second thoughts about the totalitarian culture they had nurtured. View page [...]
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December 7th, 2009 @ 10:31 pm

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