Parliamentary Standards Bill

When I speak about privilege, I do not do so as a member of any kind of club. It is the privilege of the people whom I represent that I am defending today, rather than anything to do with me personally or with any other Member. Similarly, when we talk about sovereignty we are talking about the sovereignty of the people, and we should hold that sacrosanct as well. In evidence submitted in a memorandum yesterday, Professor Dawn Oliver of University college London said:""I am afraid my general reaction is that the issues about MPs' salaries, allowances and standards are too important to be dealt with in a bill rushed through Parliament without any prior consultations, Green Papers, etc., especially since the Committee on Standards in Public Life is considering some of the issues covered by the Bill along with others."" Viewing the reality of the situation, however, she went on to say:""Having made those points I assume that much of the Bill will be passed, and my remaining points are on details and how some of the problems about parliamentary privilege might be avoided. I go through the Bill clause by clause."" On clause 8, she said:""(2) may be omitted. The House would in any event be able to exercise its disciplinary powers under existing privilege rules.""(4) (5) are unnecessary. The House has these powers anyway.""(6) amend to omit (c). Under (f) it is obvious the IPSA will consult HC bodies.""(8) is unnecessary. If omitted (10) is unnecessary. Both should be omitted.""(11) would be unnecessary if the above measures are omitted as suggested."" Members might consider that a rather iconoclastic and Luddite response to the Bill, but it comes from a professor of constitutional law who knows a thing or two about the field that we are discussing. In the interests of brevity I shall concentrate on amendment 32, which I regard as a very elegant way of achieving what the learned professor wanted. I think that we are trading on extremely dangerous ground. We are driving a coach and horses through the constitution of this place. I do not say that through any love of this place. The hon. Member for Nottingham, North (Mr. Allen) made some very good points, and I want to align my position with his.