Privilege

Debate between Chris Bryant and Jack Dromey

Thursday 9th September 2010 Commons Chamber

[Chris Bryant]

I see that the right hon. and learned Gentleman who chaired that committee is nodding his assent.

[Jack Dromey (Birmingham, Erdington) (Lab)]

I welcome the Speaker’s decision, in the best traditions of the House, to allow this debate, so that all Members of the House can defend the rights of all Members to carry out their duties without having their phones hacked into. Does my hon. Friend share my hope that there will be full co-operation from Downing street, not least because the lesson of Watergate is that the cover-up is worse than the crime?

[Chris Bryant]

My hon. Friend is right. One of the reasons for referring the matter to the Standards and Privileges Committee is that it carries the authority of the whole House, and I hope that that would mean that every right hon. and hon. Member, including those at Downing street, would want to co-operate.