Buggers and AMs

There's lot of fuss among MPs at Westminster over the news that one of their number has been bugged by the police.

The Wilson doctrine forbids - or was thought to forbid - the covert recording of conversations involving MPs and peers, but that doctrine extends only to Members of the UK Parliament.

The doctrine is now more than 40 years old. SNP MP Pete Wishart checked out the consequences of this with the Justice Secretary Jack Straw.

"Can the Lord Chancellor confirm that Members of the Scottish Parliament and all the other devolved institutions are not covered by the Wilson doctrine?"

Jack Straw: "What the hon. Gentleman says is correct".

So MPs' conversations with their constituents are protected, whereas AMs are exempt from the Wilson doctrine and can be bugged.

You'd think there might be a big fuss about this as well.