Economic League (Hansard, 22 April 1988)

§ Mr. Max Madden (Bradford, West)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker. Today's Guardian carries an article on page 7 headlined Labour MPs named in Economic League list demand inquiry".
You will recall, Mr. Speaker, that my hon. Friend the Member for Glasgow, Maryhill (Mrs. Fyfe) moved a ten-minute Bill recently which concerned the activities of the Economic League. In the course of that debate the hon. Member for Colne Valley (Mr. Riddick), opposing the Bill, said that the Economic League carried out systematic surveillance of Members of the House of Commons. During the course of that debate, in which I intervened, you were good enough to express the view that if such systematic surveillance was being carried out by the Economic League, that would have serious implications for you and the House.
It is clear from this report that the Economic League is carrying out systematic surveillance of hon. Members, and I understand that it has prepared a list naming hon. Members which has come into the possession of The Guardian. Will you, Mr. Speaker, take advantage of the weekend to make inquiries about the Economic League and ascertain the methods by which this surveillance is carried out, so as clearly to establish whether it has threatened the privileges of the House and the ability of hon. Members freely to represent the views of their constituents?
I ask you to reflect on whether this constitutes a breach of privilege and, when you have had time to consider these matters, to tell us whether you believe that these activities constitute grounds for complaint to the Committee of Privileges.

§ Mr. Harry Cohen (Leyton)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I rise to support my hon. Friend the Member for Bradford, West (Mr. Madden) in asking that this matter be referred to the Committee of Privileges. I do so as one of the hon. Members mentioned in the article—along with a number of others. This is a breach of the privileges of the House—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I must tell both hon. Gentlemen that I have not seen the article, but I shall look at it. If any hon. Member feels threatened in any way or believes that this constitutes a question of privilege, he should write to me about it. Matters of privilege are not raised on the Floor of the House.

§ Mr. Bob Cryer (Bradford, South)
On a point of order, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Speaker
If it is a matter of privilege, I must have a letter.

§ Mr. Cryer
I would be upset if my name was not on any list produced by the Economic League, but I hope you will treat the matter seriously, Mr. Speaker.

§ Mr. Tam Dalyell (Linlithgow)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. It may be known to you that, after the ten-minute Bill about the Economic League, I consulted the Clerk to the Privileges Committee. He properly 1107 brought to my attention certain technical aspects, so I did not write to you, in the belief that his advice was good—I still think it was.
Is there any way in which this real problem can be tackled apart from privilege? Perhaps privilege is not the right way to go about it, but could you reflect over the weekend and advise us on how to go about tackling what is a real problem?

§ Mr. Speaker
It is not for me to advise hon. Members on tactics, but I shall certainly look at the article.

§ Mr. Jeremy Corbyn (Islington, North)
Further to that point of order, Mr. Speaker. I understand that you will be reflecting on whether this constitutes a matter of privilege—

§ Mr. Speaker
Order. I cannot do that on my own account. If a letter is written to me alleging this, I shall consider it seriously.

§ Mr. Corbyn
In the expectation that you may receive such a letter, Mr. Speaker, my point of order is that a number of Opposition Members have been named in the article, which scurrilously names people and attempts to prevent them from gaining other employment should they ever wish to do that in the future. Will you, Mr. Speaker, make time for a debate on the activities of the Economic League and of other organisations which seek to smear individuals in this cowardly way to protect themselves, and which attack people who oppose their activities?

§ Mr. Speaker
The hon. Gentleman knows that it is not in my hands to give time for a debate on such matters. There are plenty of other occasions on which the hon. Gentleman may be able to raise the matter.