MPs should not name accused BBC presenter, minister advises

MPs could do so under the protection of parliamentary privilege which allows them to speak freely in the Commons chamber without being subject to laws around slander.

There has been growing speculation around the identity of the presenter, who the BBC says has been suspended.

The broadcaster stated today (Tuesday, July 11) that the Metropolitan Police has asked that the corporation pause its investigations while detectives look into the issue further.

Amongst all this, Work and Pensions Secretary Mel Stride has said MPs should wait to “see where all of this lands” before the presenter is named and that “privilege… should be used sparingly”, Sky News reports.

Mel Stride has said that privilege afforded to MPs should be used sparingly (Image: James Manning/PA Wire)

Mel Stride urges caution related to BBC presenter scandal

When being interviewed by Sky News‘ Kay Burley on if the BBC presenter should be named, Mr Stride replied: “Those decisions have to be taken on the known facts. And it seems to me that even the apparent known facts seem to be changing within 24 hours.”

This seemed to refer to the news that a lawyer representing the young person involved in the complaints had stated nothing inappropriate had gone on.

Asked whether he would “implore” his colleagues not to name the presenter using parliamentary privilege, he said: “I can only speak for myself – that’s a very personal thing.

“I would personally certainly not be doing that.

“Members of parliament do have a right to privilege and to be able to say things in the Commons without fear of legal repercussions.

“But I think that is a privilege that should be used very sparingly and with great thought.”

A lawyer representing the young person involved in the complaints has said that nothing inappropriate had gone on (Image: Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)

He later added: “I’m as confident I can be that they will be now moving at pace. I think we have to see where all of this lands and then start to make these judgements about whether things were done the right way or not, whether people should be named or not, and so on and so forth.”

Has parliamentary privilege been used in a similar manner before?

Parliamentary privilege has been used before to name rich and famous people protected by the courts.

For example, back in 2011, Ryan Giggs was named as the “married footballer” with an injunction, after tabloid reports that he had an affair with a reality star.

Additionally, businessman Phillip Green was named by Lord Hain as the mystery retail tycoon involved in allegations of misconduct.