To mislead parliament
To mislead parliament is to present false information to parliament knowingly, a very serious charge in Westminster-style parliamentary assemblies.[1][2] Government ministers that are found to have misled parliament will generally lose their ministerial portfolio. By convention, a minister found to have misled parliament is expected to resign or face being sacked. The Scottish Government ministerial code requires ministers to resign if they mislead Parliament.[3] For witnesses giving testimony to an Australian parliamentary committee, giving misleading evidence can be considered a contempt of parliament.[4]
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- Profumo Affair: John Profumo, Secretary of State for War. His affair with Christine Keeler, the reputed mistress of an alleged Soviet spy, followed by lying in the House of Commons when he was questioned about it, forced the resignation of Profumo and damaged the reputation of Prime Minister Harold Macmillan's government
- Craig Thomson was also referred from Parliament's Privileges Committee to investigate whether Thomson deliberately misled the House[5][6]
References
- ↑ http://www.abc.net.au/lateline/content/2003/s922068.htm
- ↑ Inside Parliament: Minister's apology fails to satisfy MPs: Handling of 'misleading' answer over Bill for disabled people angers both sides of House - Parliament held in contempt, Speaker told
- ↑ http://www.yousufhamid.com/2009/05/salmond-misleading-parliament.html
- ↑ Appearing as a witness at a Parliamentary committee hearing
- ↑ Craig Thomson misled parliament: Coalition , The Australian, 22/5/2012
- ↑ Thomson 'misled Parliament', Sydney Morning Herald, 29/5/2012