Introduction

The privileges of Parliament are those rules of both Houses of Parliament which offer protection from outside interference – from whatever source – to the Houses collectively, and to individual members. Parliamentary privilege also entails the right of Parliament to regulate its own composition and procedure: it is an aspect of Parliaments’ sovereignty or supremacy. Erskine May defines privilege as being:

Parliamentary privilege provides protection for Members of Parliament against accusations of defamation from outside Parliament and also protects the individual member – in the exercise of his or her freedom of speech – from the executive.