Privileges and Conduct Committee - Motion to Agree

Part of the debate – in the House of Lords at 4:00 pm on 17 December 2018.

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Photo of Viscount Hailsham Viscount Hailsham Conservative 4:00, 17 December 2018

No, let us be fair—that could very well apply to interventions. I think it is perfectly true that people’s understanding of the gravity of sexual misconduct has changed, but I very much hope that our understanding of the requirements of natural justice and fairness has not.

I recognise that Members of your Lordships’ House will say, “Thank God the lawyers have no role to play in these proceedings”. I get an echo of that from around me. My answer is that noble Lords would not say that if they had the misfortune to be a party to misconduct proceedings which could destroy their reputation.

When I started at the law—