Lib Dems say MPs facing criminal charges must not hide behind parliamentary privilege

"We do not have immunity from prosecution for Parliamentarians in this country," said the Liberal Democrat Shadow Leader of the House.

Commenting on reports that Parliamentary privilege may be used by the lawyers of parliamentarians facing criminal charges, David Heath said:

“There should be no question of MPs or peers charged with serious criminal offences sheltering behind Parliamentary privilege.

“We do not have immunity from prosecution for Parliamentarians in this country. Parliamentary privilege exists purely to ensure we can do our job properly, not to protect us from the law.

“If there is any question about whether Parliamentary privilege gives protection against prosecution for fraud, then Parliament should make it very clear by passing a resolution to say that it does not.”

Lib Dems protest as London Mayor hits low income Londoners hardest with 2010 fare increases!

Caroline Pidgeon, the Liberal Democrat London Assembly Transport Spokesperson and Chair of the London Assembly Transport Committee, said about Boris Johnson's steep fare rises for London transport services in 2010: "For the second year in a row the Mayor is punishing Londoners with an inflation busting increase in fares. Incredibly even a short bus journey involving just one change will set people back £2.40. "Boris Johnson boasts about freezing his share of the council tax bill, but his continual hiking up of fares means he is taking significantly more from the wallets and purses of hard up Londoners." "Most significantly by hiking up some bus fares by a staggering 20% he is ensuring that low income Londoners pay the greatest price for his mistaken policies."