Law and Lawyers: Committee on Privileges - Special Report on Intimidation

Thursday, 29 June 2023

Committee on Privileges - Special Report on Intimidation

The House of Commons Committee on Privileges has issued a further report -

Matter referred on 21 April 2022: Co-ordinated campaign of interference in the work of the Privileges Committee (parliament.uk)

This follows on from the committee's earlier report into whether former Prime Minister Boris was in contempt of Parliament. (For earlier report see Committee of Privileges and Boris Johnson). The House itself approved the committee's report and thus held that Johnson was in contempt.

A number of notable individuals are named in this special report and there is a recommendation (at para 20).

Para 22 notes that - 'It will be for the House to consider what further action, if any, to take in respect of Members of the House referred to in this special report.'

The Annex to the report also notes an email campaign to bring pressure on the Conservative members of the committee. The campaign was instigated by the Conservative Post website, urging those members to stand aside from the Committee and alleging that the inquiry was “deeply flawed, biased and unfair”.