Wednesday 17 August 2011

The Death of David Kelly - To whom is Dominic Grieve accountable?

Regular readers of this blog will be aware that I and several of those who comment on the blog believe that the UK Attorney General lied to the UK House of Commons in his statement made on 9th June 2011.

Additionally, I believe that Dominic Grieve has perverted the course of justice in his actions and failures to act in this matter.

That, if substantiated, would mean that the UK Attorney General has committed a serious criminal offence.

In his letter of 2nd August 2011 to my Member of Parliament it is clear that Dominic Grieve is determined to "tough it out".

He has little choice.

If he admits that he lied to Parliament about a matter as serious as the suspected murder of Dr. David Kelly then Dominic Grieve's career is over.

Both his political career and legal career.

Would you vote for a parliamentary candidate who had perverted the course of justice with regard to a suspected murder?

Would you employ a lawyer who had perverted the course of justice with regard to a suspected murder?

To whom, if anyone, is Dominic Grieve accountable?

In his letter of 2nd August 2011 Mr. Grieve hints at how he may potentially be held to account for his actions and failures.

He writes:


Like all Ministers I am appointed, and can be dismissed, by the Prime Minister. However, when exercising functions in the public interest I act independently of Government and am answerable to Parliament and to the Courts for my decisions."


It seems to me that there are three possible mechanisms hinted at whereby Dominic Grieve can, potentially, be held to account:


  1. In Parliament. As far as I can ascertain lying to the House of Commons is a "contempt of Parliament". The most appropriate mechanism to secure scrutiny of Mr. Grieve's lies to the House of Commons is unclear. Three possible routes appear to exist - the Speaker of the House of Commons, the chairman of the Standards and Privileges and Committee and the Parliamentary Commissioner for Standards.

  2. The civil Courts - I hope that those who lodged the formal "Memorial" are seriously considering seeking Judicial Review of Mr. Grieve's scandalous statement to the House of Commons and the decision which underlies it.

  3. The criminal Courts - It seems to me, and others, that Dominic Grieve may have committed the serious criminal offences of Misconduct in Public Office and Perverting the Course of Justice. Those are offences which can be reported to the Police, as I understand the situation.

  4. There is a fourth "court" where Dominic Grieve may be held accountable for his lies - the court of public opinion. It is unlikely that he had that in mind in his letter. But as James Murdoch and others are discovering the court of public opinion has its own, if rather unpredictable, powers.



It seems to me that it would be an appalling outcome if Dominic Grieve gets away with lying to the House of Commons with the effect of perverting the course of justice with respect to the suspected murder of Dr. David Kelly.

2 comments:

  1. Parliament is protecting Grieve, the Table Office has blocked a question from my MP and others regarding his false statement to Parliament on the 9th June.

    http://interim.cabinetoffice.gov.uk
    /parliamentary-clerk-guide/chapter7.aspx

    Parliament has become corrupted; MP’s are being prevented from holding Grieve and the government to account, the police have been corrupted by refusing to investigate a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and the press has been corrupted by refusing to expose deplorable state of affairs.

    There are a few who recognise how rotten our Parliament has become some think it has always been the case; it hasn’t! Blair started the final assault on our democracy and Cameron will finish it if he is allowed.

    The doctors legal challenge offers a last hope of exposing the criminal activities of our leaders if that fails then we have two choices 1) Accept a corrupt parliament with all its corrupt rulings or 2) Revolution.

    I honestly see no other alternatives. The doctors need our support (financial and publicity) if they fail then our democracy is dead.

    ReplyDelete
  2. LL,

    You are correct that the Table Office has been blocking questions about Dominic Grieve's dishonest statement.

    That, in my view, is a matter of the utmost seriousness.

    ReplyDelete