{"links":{"self":"https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/765662.json"},"data":{"type":"petition","id":765662,"attributes":{"action":"Make Contempt of Parliament a Criminal Offence","background":"Currently The House of Commons typically refers allegations of contempt to the Committee of Privileges, a cross-party committee that investigates and reports on the matter. While historical powers once allowed for imprisonment. This needs to change to make it a Criminal Offence.","additional_details":"Currently, \"Contempt of Parliament\"— for example misleading a House or refusing to testify—is not a criminal offence. We argue that Parliament’s ancient powers to punish contempt are now unenforceable, that this creates an accountability gap, and that witnesses can obstruct democracy without the legal consequences that might apply in a Court of Law.\r\n \r\nWe call for contempt of Parliament to be made a statutory criminal offence to:\r\n \r\nEnsure Select Committees can compel evidence and are not mislead.\r\nShow no one is above democratic oversight.\r\n","committee_note":"","state":"open","signature_count":41,"created_at":"2026-03-28T08:09:58.462Z","updated_at":"2026-04-30T22:05:10.000Z","rejected_at":null,"opened_at":"2026-04-24T13:59:44.535Z","closed_at":null,"moderation_threshold_reached_at":"2026-03-29T09:03:30.000Z","response_threshold_reached_at":null,"government_response_at":null,"debate_threshold_reached_at":null,"scheduled_debate_date":null,"debate_outcome_at":null,"creator_name":"Alan Wheeler","rejection":null,"government_response":null,"debate":null,"departments":[{"acronym":"CO","name":"Cabinet Office","url":"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/cabinet-office"}],"topics":[],"signatures_by_country":[{"name":"United Kingdom","code":"GB","signature_count":41}],"signatures_by_constituency":[{"name":"Broadland and Fakenham","ons_code":"E14001136","mp":"Jerome Mayhew MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket","ons_code":"E14001146","mp":"Peter Prinsley MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Central Devon","ons_code":"E14001155","mp":"Rt Hon Sir Mel Stride MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Colne Valley","ons_code":"E14001177","mp":"Paul Davies MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Croydon South","ons_code":"E14001187","mp":"Rt Hon Chris Philp MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Croydon West","ons_code":"E14001188","mp":"Sarah Jones MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Derby South","ons_code":"E14001194","mp":"Baggy Shanker MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"East Wiltshire","ons_code":"E14001217","mp":"Danny Kruger MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Horsham","ons_code":"E14001294","mp":"John Milne MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Hyndburn","ons_code":"E14001299","mp":"Sarah Smith MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Ipswich","ons_code":"E14001302","mp":"Jack Abbott MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Isle of Wight West","ons_code":"E14001304","mp":"Richard Quigley MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Jarrow and Gateshead East","ons_code":"E14001307","mp":"Kate Osborne MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Kingswinford and South Staffordshire","ons_code":"E14001316","mp":"Mike Wood MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Mid Bedfordshire","ons_code":"E14001359","mp":"Blake Stephenson MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Mid Leicestershire","ons_code":"E14001364","mp":"Mr Peter Bedford MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Newton Abbot","ons_code":"E14001381","mp":"Martin Wrigley MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"North East Hampshire","ons_code":"E14001392","mp":"Alex Brewer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"North Herefordshire","ons_code":"E14001395","mp":"Dr Ellie Chowns MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"North Northumberland","ons_code":"E14001397","mp":"David Smith MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Nuneaton","ons_code":"E14001413","mp":"Jodie Gosling MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Penrith and Solway","ons_code":"E14001424","mp":"Markus Campbell-Savours MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Redditch","ons_code":"E14001441","mp":"Chris Bloore MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Rochester and Strood","ons_code":"E14001447","mp":"Lauren Edwards MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Rother Valley","ons_code":"E14001451","mp":"Jake Richards MP","signature_count":2},{"name":"Runnymede and Weybridge","ons_code":"E14001456","mp":"Dr Ben Spencer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Salisbury","ons_code":"E14001460","mp":"Rt Hon John Glen MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Scunthorpe","ons_code":"E14001462","mp":"Sir Nicholas Dakin MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"St Helens South and Whiston","ons_code":"E14001510","mp":"Ms Marie Rimmer MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Stroud","ons_code":"E14001529","mp":"Dr Simon Opher MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Taunton and Wellington","ons_code":"E14001540","mp":"Gideon Amos MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"West Dorset","ons_code":"E14001575","mp":"Edward Morello MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Wyre Forest","ons_code":"E14001601","mp":"Mark Garnier MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Yeovil","ons_code":"E14001603","mp":"Adam Dance MP","signature_count":1},{"name":"Dumfries and Galloway","ons_code":"S14000073","mp":"John Cooper MP","signature_count":1}],"signatures_by_region":[{"name":"North East","ons_code":"A","signature_count":2},{"name":"North West","ons_code":"B","signature_count":4},{"name":"Yorkshire and The Humber","ons_code":"D","signature_count":5},{"name":"East Midlands","ons_code":"E","signature_count":2},{"name":"West 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