UK: Parliamentary Privilege (Defamation) Bill introduced to the Lords – waving goodbye to waiver?

On 9 June 2014 – in an attempt to restore certainty to the ancient doctrine of parliamentary privilege – the Parliamentary Privilege (Defamation) Bill (the “Bill“) was introduced in the House of Lords on behalf of Lord Lester of Herne Hill, QC. By way of background, Article IX of the Bill of Rights 1689 (“Article IX“) established “[t]hat the Freedome of Speech and Debates or Proceedings in Parlyament ought not to be impeached or questioned…