Julian Smith MP has written to the Home Affairs Select Committee ahead of their session on Tuesday (3 December) questioning the Editor of the Guardian Alan Rusbridger.
The MP writes:
“I want to highlight to the Committee the fact that the Guardian, the Scott Trust and the Guardian Media Group have failed to answer questions relating to their actions and the security of our nation, put to them by MPs over the past weeks and months…
“…I therefore respectfully request that on Tuesday the Home Affairs Select Committee asks Mr Rusbridger and any of his Colleagues present to be witnesses under Oath.”
A copy of the letter is here >>
Julian Smith MP's previous correspondence is available here >>
The text of the letter:
I write prior to Tuesday 3rd December Committee session which will have Alan Rusbridger and other Guardian editors as witnesses.
I want to highlight to the Committee the fact that the Guardian, the Scott Trust and the Guardian Media Group have failed to answer questions relating to their actions and the security of our nation, put to them by MPs over the past weeks and months. I enclose that correspondence with this letter. Whilst the original letter of 6th November was from 28 Conservative MPs, there was also a cross-party request from MPs and Peers to meet Liz Forgan, Chair of the Scott Trust. This was initially accepted and then rejected by Ms Forgan. I again enclose relevant correspondence.
You will note that as well as the question of whether Alan Rusbridger or any of his board, executive, editorial, journalistic, staff or contractor colleagues directed, permitted, facilitated or acquiesced in the transfer of files that contained names of information that could lead to the identities of British intelligence personnel or GCHQ staff, a supplementary question directed at the Chief Executive of Guardian Media Group has been posed asking whether any flights used by people to transfer the files have been treated as business expense.
None of the questions posed by Parliamentarians have been directly answered by the Guardian and I therefore respectfully request that on Tuesday the Home Affairs Select Committee asks Mr Rusbridger and any of his Colleagues present to be witnesses under Oath. Whilst giving false evidence to a Committee, whether or not an oath has been administered, would be contempt of the House, The Perjury Act 1911 provides for those making false statement to be tried in the courts.
Given the importance of the questions being posed I hope you and your committee will accept this request, assuming that there is no advice to the contrary from The Office of Speaker's Counsel in light of associated legal proceedings.