Winking at perjury
Sir: I refer to the article by Dorothy Becker on the above topic in The Spectator of March 24.
She says: " If it is open to a member of the government of the day to be selective on pro secutions for perjury, and to prevent them, the door is wide open to allegations concerning any action which has political flavour or connections, and also open to general allegations that the administration of law is selective and impure." As she points out, it is a matter for the government's discretion whether it does institute proceedings in any particular case, but she does not add that the Attorney-General, by the exercise of his prerogative power of entering a none prosequi, can prevent from proceeding any prosecution for perjury (or anything else) by whomsoever instituted, at any time after its commencement.
A. D. M. Lindsay The Common Room, Middle Temple, London, EC4
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