MPs should not be above the law, and The Sunday Times’ 
front page report today that three Labour MPs under police investigation were trying to weasel their way out of answering to a court of law about alleged expenses fraud will leave all decent people feeling a further sense of betrayal. The cowardly MPs believe they should be immune from prosecution under parliamentary privilege.
If Elliot Morley (pic left), David Chaytor (top right) and Jim Devine (bottom right)have nothing to hide, then they should fully answer any charges and be cross-examined.
Morley and Chaytor are being investigated by the Met over allegations that they received taxpayers’ money for non-existent mortgages on second homes, while Devine is alleged to have submitted a claim for £2,157 for rewiring his London 
flat using a receipt with a false VAT number.
The public is still justifiably outraged about the MPs’ expenses scandal. Because of this, it is crucial that MPs are much more accountable and transparent as we enter a new political era which must try to win back public trust. This must start now by allowing justice to be done – and to be seen to be done.
The Sunday Times has quoted a legal firm representing the three disgraced MPs stating that they have hired two QCs to consider whether they should be protected by parliamentary privilege under the 1689 Bill of Rights.They believe that there are “substantial legal and constitutional arguments that this is, in fact the case.â€
As I understood it, parliamentary privilege guarantees the rights of MPs and peers to enjoy freedom of speech and freedom from arrest in the House. However, The Sunday Times report states that it has evolved (I didn’t realise this) to provide a number of parliamentary activities with immunity from civil or criminal legal action. What kind of activities, I wonder?
Surely it does not mean that MPs can abuse their publicly-funded expenses’ system and avoid prosecution. It is definitely not a privilege they deserve.
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It’s the ‘above the law’ attitude that has made people distrustful of politicians
I had no idea that Parliamentary Privilege had been extended, either. As you say, if they have nothing to hide why do they need its protection?
there are a damn sight more than these three that should be in trouble – from all parties.
They should be investigated first.
A thorough and honest investigation has to be done for these politicians. They should set a good example for the people.
Bring back the stocks!
I completely agree with Jean-Luc Picard
“MPs should not be above the law”, hm, no one should be above the law!!! I live in Croatia, and lately we are experiencing the experiment of “let us rise above the lawâ€, and trust me, this experiment is made to be felt badly on the “skin” of normal, working people! What to say…I can only wonder where this world is going to?