Privileges Committee Special Report

Debate between Harriet Harman and Michael Fabricant

Monday 10th July 2023 Commons Chamber

[Ms Harman]

Thank you, Madam Deputy Speaker. If the hon. Member for Workington (Mark Jenkinson) is saying that he does not believe the Privileges Committee’s inquiry into Boris Johnson was a witch hunt, I warmly welcome the fact that he has said so. I thank him for putting it on the record that he does not believe our inquiry was a witch hunt.

[Michael Fabricant]

Does the right hon. and learned Lady not think it would have been courteous of the Committee to warn those listed in the annex that they were going to be listed? If a mistake had been made, it would have given those people an opportunity to make their point before the Committee’s report was published. Would that not have been fairer?

[Ms Harman]

The points and issues that we included in the annex to our report were put in the public domain on Twitter. Indeed, the hon. Gentleman himself put into the public domain that, in relation to the Committee, there was a question of “malice and prejudice”. He felt it was important to put that on to the public record.

[Michael Fabricant]

Will the right hon. and learned Lady give way?

[Ms Harman]

I think the hon. Gentleman will be making a speech.

[Michael Fabricant]

On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. It is totally—