The ‘Phone Hacking Crisis in The United Kingdom- Parliament Awakens

Article Tools

0
Liked it
I Like It
Subscribe to RSS

The ‘phone hacking affair has many implications, how has it affected Parliament and what might it mean.

Sleeping beauty is awakening after years of slumber. The phone hacking crisis in the United Kingdom seems to have concentrated minds powerfully. Parliament is asserting itself after years of being in thrall to the executive. Politicians, after years of toadying to press barons, seem to be losing their fear of the media. It is all very exciting, the momentum is building and Parliament may once again take its proper place within the British constitution, providing the checks and balances that the constitution requires to work properly.

The ‘phone hacking scandal rumbled away, in the background of British public life, since 2002, an unsatisfactory investigation failed to reveal available evidence in 2006. A senior Metropolitan Police officer examined the case to see whether to re-open the investigation in 2009. Revelations that crime victims, bombing victims, and the families of fallen servicepersons had their mobile telephones hacked by people acting for The News of the World, in pursuit of news stories, enraged the public, thus forcing action from Parliament, who in turn forced the Government to act. There are several investigations ordered and on going. The police are re-investigating the evidence and several official enquiries have been ordered.

Read more in US Politics

« President Obama Supports Marriage Equality

View From The Cheap Seats: The Iowa Caucus Insanity »

The Culture, Media and Sport, select committee in The House of Commons had already delivered two highly critical reports on evidence given to it by News International’s executives in previous hearings into the ‘phone hacking scandal. One report in February 2010 was uncompromising in its language accusing the News International executives of “collective amnesia”, “deliberate obfuscation” and doubted the executives’ assertions that they knew nothing of the wrongdoing.

However, Parliament has surprised many commentators, and probably itself, by its decisive action. On July 6 2011, during an emergency debate, Parliament amazed itself, Britain’s elected representatives, of all parties, spoke with one voice in their condemnation of the undoubted wrongdoing and their own cozying up to press barons. The Prime Minister, until then relaxed about the scandal, announced public enquiries into both the scandal and its implications.

When Rupert and James Murdoch refused an invitation, from the House of Commons Culture Select Committee, to appear and answer questions on the ‘phone hacking affair, the House of Commons issued a summons. The Deputy Serjeant of Arms of the House of Commons strode into News International offices to deliver the will of Parliament to the errant Murdochs. Parliament remembered that it is a court and the highest legal authority in the land and has power to compel those, who do not willingly comply with its will.

Constitutional commentators wondered, whether if the Murdochs refused to appear the nation would witness the sight of the Murdochs being marched up Whitehall to Parliament by the Household Guards. Not such a ridiculous idea, Parliament has the power to order such an event. Had the Murdochs refused the summons, they would have been in contempt of Parliament. Parliament has the power to imprison people, who commit this offence, indefinitely. The Murdochs, ultimately, complied with the Parliamentary summons and were closely questioned by the cross party committee.

The ‘phone hacking scandal is uncovering wrongdoing, illegality, improper and undue influence, and criminal activity in many parts of British public life and its implications have yet to be seen. However, one good thing that may emerge, from this sorry affair, is that Parliament has truly awoken from its long slumber, after years of cowering before governments with huge Commons majorities, and has realized its own true power and strength and it is hoped will now play its proper role in the United Kingdom constitution. Backbench Members must ensure that the momentum of the ‘phone hacking scandal continues, and that scrutiny and holding governments and others to account for their actions continues robustly and confidently. This Parliamentary renaissance must herald a

Image via Wikipedia

new dawn in British democracy.