HC Deb 16 December 1954 vol 535 c1986
Mr. Speaker

Before I call on the Leader of the House, I will read to the House a letter which I received yesterday from Mr. Baker:

"Wormwood Scrubs Prison.

2nd December, 1954.

Dear Mr. Speaker,

By the kind dispensation of the Governor I am at last able to write to you this short letter, in order to offer my most humble apologies to you, and, through you, to the Prime Minister and the House of Commons for the trouble I have caused you and any discredit I have inadvertently brought upon the House, over the past months.

As you know, proceedings commenced while I was recovering from my illness, and I discovered, to my dismay, that I was unable to vacate my seat in any way while the matter was "sub judice." I hastened the proceedings as far as was possible, and refused to Appeal, so that you can now dispossess me of my scat without delay.

I must end as I began; by begging the House to accept my most sincere apologies. I can only assure you that my regret, remorse and repentance during the past three months were doubled by the knowledge that, in addition to my friends and colleagues elsewhere, I had also embarrassed my friends and colleagues in the House of Commons. I can only ask you and, through you, them to accept this expression of these regrets. I cannot ask for your forgiveness; I dare to hope for your pity and your prayers

I hope, too, that you will' receive with compassion and some measure of understanding this letter to testify to my sorrow that I should have involved in my own personal misfortunes the House of Commons of which I was so proud and honoured to be a Member.

I am, Mr. Speaker,

Your humble and obedient servant,

Peter Baker."

Mr. Crookshank

I beg to move, That the letter addressed to Mr. Speaker by Mr. Justice Lynskey and the Record of the Proceedings upon the Trial of the Indictment against Mr. Peter Arthur David Baker be now considered. I am sure that the whole House will share my feelings when I say that I find the moving of this and the following Motion a most melancholy task. I do not think I need comment upon the circumstances, as the facts have been established by the return made by my right hon. and gallant Friend the Home Secretary. Sir, cases of this sort are fortunately very rare and I feel, and I hope that I am right, that the House will have no desire to go further in the matter.

Question put and agreed to.

Resolved, That Mr. Peter Arthur David Baker be expelled this House.—[Mr. Crookshank.]