Expensive row
This law, enacted in the 1689 Bill of Rights, was to protect parliamentarians from arrest in the course of their duties. Then the act was to stop their heads being chopped off by an all-powerful dictator. Today, although it appears at times that we have a dictatorial leadership, this clearly cannot happen.
If the accused are able to use 321-year-old law, it means that MPs can do anything more-or-less with impunity. Adding insult to injury, all will be able to claim Legal Aid when the cases transfer to the High Courts from the lower courts and this will be paid entirely by the taxpayer.
DR DAVID HILL
Executive Director
World Innovation Foundation Charity, Bern, Switzerland