blatant disregard for Parliamentary sovereignty (Comment)

6.46.15pm GMT Tue 9th Dec 2008

It is depressing to observe people's disillusionment with the political process and their casual indifference sometimes to the need to protect the rights and freedoms that our predecessors fought so dearly to preserve.

Andrew MacKay's challenge to the police entering the offices of a fellow MP in the House of Commons on 27 November was entirely justified in the circumstances and the police had no right to seize the contents of Damian's Green's office in the way they did. Quite apart from the fact that no warrant was obtained or charges brought, the police action showed a blatant disregard for Parliamentary sovereignty.

The need to protect the rights and privileges of Parliament from such an overbearing Government and the executive has never been greater. It is to their everlasting shame that so many Labour MPs followed their Whips into supporting a Government motion to delay and thereby seriously weaken a very important inquiry into the very heavy-handed and quite unwarranted arrest of the MP concerned and the steps that led up to it. Is it any wonder so many people become disillusioned with politics!

Ray Earwicker

Liberal Democrat

Prospective Parliamentary Candidate for Bracknell