Today\’s published Commons order papers contain a question to be answered by a minister later this week. The Guardian is prevented from identifying the MP who has asked the question, what the question is, which minister might answer it, or where the question is to be found.
The Guardian is also forbidden from telling its readers why the paper is prevented – for the first time in memory – from reporting parliament. Legal obstacles, which cannot be identified, involve proceedings, which cannot be mentioned, on behalf of a client who must remain secret.
The only fact the Guardian can report is that the case involves the London solicitors Carter-Ruck, who specialise in suing the media for clients, who include individuals or global corporations.
Eh?
I thought we\’d already had this argument? Libel laws don\’t cover the Commons chamber and anything said in that chamber can be reported under Parliamentary privilege.
WTF?
Anyone know what the question was?
\”Can the Prime Minister confirm that David Cameron is the love child of Harriet Harman and Peter Sutcliffe?\”
See Guido Fawkes:
Paul Farrelly (Newcastle-under-Lyme):
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of legislation to protect (a) whistleblowers and (b) press freedom following the injunctions obtained in the High Court by (i) Barclays and Freshfields solicitors on 19 March 2009 on the publication of internal Barclays reports documenting alleged tax avoidance schemes and (ii) Trafigura and Carter-Ruck solicitors on 11 September 2009 on the publication of the Minton report on the alleged dumping of toxic waste in the Ivory Coast, commissioned by Trafigura.
There’s no call to be so nasty to Mr Sutcliffe.
Thanks for the heads up, John.
I saw this reported by Private Eye in a similar way to the Guardian and wondered what it was all about.
The Eye expressed some concern about “super-junctions” – it’s worth a read.
And now of course this question is all over the web, making a mockery of the attempt to suppress it.
The Eye article in question is quoted verbatim here.
If true it would explain The Ripper’s hatred of women.
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If you’re a Tweeter, get yourself a FreeTheGuardian #Twibbon. Even if you hate the efcking Grauniad (as I do) this is just not funny.
Rubber gloves and face-masks on. It’s time to fertilise a certain law firm’s lawn.
Nick Clegg should not be the only MP to raise this in the House – if he does. Step forward and do your job, Mr Speaker.
“There’s no call to be so nasty to Mr Sutcliffe.”
Indeed. Looking back on his victims, he always showed impeccable taste so I can’t see how Jackboots would ever have made the cut… 😉