Parliamentary privilege
Parliamentary Privilege is a legal mechanism employed solely within the Palace of Westminster.
It allows members of the House of Lords and House of Commons to speak freely without fear of legal action on the grounds of libel. It also means while a member is within the grounds of the Palace he/she cannot be arrested.
The rights and privileges of members is overseen by the powerful privileges committee. If a member of the house is in breach of the rules then he/she can be suspended or even expelled from the House.
Such past breachs have included giving false evidence before a committee of the house and the taking of bribes by members.
