Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor David Davis (Conservative), on Thursday, 19 April 2012, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 153 members in total.

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FREEDOM OF SPEECH FOR HON. MEMBERS

<p>That this House, noting the deeply disturbing use of the ancient offence of `scandalising a judge', considered obsolete since the end of the nineteenth century, by the Northern Ireland Attorney General against the former Secretary of State for Northern Ireland the right hon. Member for Neath and Biteback Publishing, over a passage in his memoir describing an episode in 2005-06 leading up to the historic 2007 political settlement, calls on the Northern Ireland Attorney General to end this serious attack on free speech by withdrawing the proceedings for contempt; further asserts the fundamental right of hon. Members to express their views responsibly without fear of judicial censorship; and invites Mr Speaker to consider what action the House might take to defend its rights against such attacks.</p>

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

2984 

Session

2010-12

Other sponsors

Lord Darling of Roulanish

Charles Kennedy

Lord Blunkett

Lord Lilley

Lord Murphy of Torfaen

Subjects

Members

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk