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The Privilege Motion

What is important about the motion about contempt of parliament is the underlying issue.
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This is a picture of Bakeman House in which there is a sheltered scheme for elderly residents. For many months it has been in the middle of a building site. An attempt has been made to gag me from speaking out about this issue.

That is the subject of the motion which I will be proposing to the House tomorrow morning.

We have had a number of problems recently with attempts to prevent freedom of speech. The fact that it has gone as far as an attempt to gag an MP from speaking about an issue in the House of Commons is wrong.

We need to remember the people who live in Bakeman House (and the environs) and what effect this is having on them. I will not be gagged from speaking about this.

The background is that this is the Swan Development in Yardley in which Tescos are trying to build a supermarket. However, there has been an objection to a Compulsory Purchase Order which has resulted in an Inquiry. That has put a halt to development in the past few months.

I am pleased that The Speaker has come down on the side of allowing the plight of the residents of Bakeman House to be spoken about.

MPs have to be able to fight for their constituents. That is what Article IX of the Bill of Rights is about.

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