Unreliable Evidence - Above the Law

Lawyers are arguing that the 3 MPs and a Peer facing charges over their expenses claims are protected from being prosecuted in the ordinary criminal courts, because of special parliamentary privilege. This week, Clive Anderson and a panel of distinguished lawyers discuss the reasons why certain people, including MPs, judges, diplomats, heads of state and even in some circumstances criminals-turned-informants, seem to be "above the law". Why should an MP speaking in the House of Commons be able to slander another person without fear of being sued? Why are diplomats literally allowed to get away with murder? How and why were these long-standing legal immunities established, and can they still be justified today? The producer is Brian King, and this is an Above the Title production for BBC Radio 4.