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Court blow to city MP in battle for answers
A BIRMINGHAM MP has failed in his court battle against Tony Blair over claims the Government refuses to answer questions.
John Hemming (Lib Dem, Yardley) wanted the courts to order Ministers to answer questions from MPs. He claimed they refused to give him information on issues from hospital deficits to council tax increases.
The MP represented himself in a High Court hearing, taking on a barrister representing Mr Blair.
But the judge, Mr Justice Bennett, ruled the courts could not interfere in proceedings in Parliament.
He threw our Mr Hemming's application, and ordered him to pay costs of £1,754 plus VAT.
Speaking to the court, Mr Hemming argued that a formal question was a Parliamentary proceeding in the same way as legislation, and therefore should be enforced by the courts.
The judge said ministers were responsible to Parliament, but not to the courts."
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