Parliament

We have been told that the Select Committee overlooking the media cannot compel non citizens to appear before it. This surely cannot be correct where the non citizen is here in the UK. Parliament is after all the highest court in the London and it can demand attendance. Whether or not Parliament has the power to demand non citizens to attend a Select Committee hearing the Murdochs were ill advised to have refused to do so. It made them look evasive and frightened. I am glad that they changed their mind although the change makes them look weak. It is certain that at the Committee hearing they will be asked questions they cannot answer for the perfectly respectable reason that to do so will prejudice likely court cases in which News International will be involved. The Committee members should understand this and it is hoped that all Committee members will resist the temptation to 'grandstand' for the exercise of its muscle in a responsible way to bring about the Murdochs appearance before them has been impressive and to spoil that by low behaviour will only bring Parliament back into the contempt it so richly deserved as a result of the expenses scandal. Whilst talking about low behaviour the witch hunt of the Murdochs from the left, including the Labour party, the Guardian and the BBC has been most unedifying. Their lack of humility will rebound against them in due course.