R v Morley and Ors

The Court of Appeal has ruled that parliamentary privilege "has never ever attached to ordinary criminal activities by members of Parliament".  Lord Pannick QC and James Segan acted for the Crown in successfully arguing that three MPs and a Peer who are accused of expenses fraud are not protected by privilege and must stand trial.  The Court, composed of the Lord Chief Justice, Master of the Rolls and President of the Queen's Bench Division, conducted a wide-ranging review of constitutional authorities dating as far back as 1629, and concluded that "we are unable to envisage how dishonest claims by members of Parliament for their expenses or allowances begin to involve the legislative or core functions of the relevant House, or the proper performance of their important public duties".