What would Commons moment look like for Murdoch men?

Here, for aficionados, is what Messrs Myler, Hinton and Crone could expect if the Commons passes a motion of censure on them for contempt of parliament. It’s the last occasion when a non-member, another journalist, John Junor, was summoned to the bar (or threshold) of the House to apologise for claiming that MPs were evading petrol rations.

The Speaker rebukes Mr Junor (I can imagine that Speaker Bercow might just be tempted to milk that moment a little longer than Speaker (William) Morrison did).

PRIVILEGE (ATTENDANCE OF MR. JOHN JUNOR)
HC Deb 24 January 1957 vol 563 cc403-5 403
Order read, for attendance of Mr. John Junor.

And the House being informed that Mr. Junor Was in attendance, Mr. Speaker directed him to be brought to the Bar.

The Serjeant at Arms then brought Mr. Junor to the Bar.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. John Junor, you have been summoned to appear at the Bar of this House in consequence of a Report made by a Committee of this House. That Committee was directed to inquire into the matter of an article published on 16th December, 1956, in the Sunday Express, of which you are Editor.

You did not seek, so the Committee have found, to establish the truth of the article, nor did you appear willing to admit its obvious implications. Although given every opportunity to express your regret, you made what the Committee were only able to regard as an entirely inadequate apology. Nevertheless, I have to inform you that before considering the findings of the Committee the House is willing to hear anything that you may have to say in extenuation.

Mr. John Junor

Mr. Speaker, I wish to express my sincere and unreserved apologies for any imputations or reflection which I may have cast upon the honour and integrity of the Members of this House in the article which I published in the Sunday Express of 16th December.

At no time did I intend to be discourteous to Parliament. My only aim was to focus attention on what I considered to be an injustice in the allocation of petrol, namely, the petrol allowances given to political parties in the constituencies. In my judgment these allowances were a proper and, indeed, an inescapable subject of comment in a free Press.

That was a view which I held then and hold now, Sir, but I do regret, deeply and sincerely, that the manner in which I expressed myself should have been such as to be a contempt of this House.

I have nothing more to say. I now leave myself in the hands of this House.

Mr. Speaker

Mr. Junor, I now direct you to withdraw.

Mr. Junor withdrew accordingly.

If they were summoned to the House and failed to turn up, the former News International figures could be arrested by Commons officials. I hear that one of those accused in the select committee report, Les Hinton, recently bought a flat in London and though he was generally regarded as having quit the UK for the US may not be as far beyond the reach of Commons officials as was thought.

If the individuals were successfully summoned but refused to apologise – which is what their recent statements suggest would happen – well, who knows where we are?

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