No law against revealing papers
While Mr Douglas clearly breached constitutional conventions by allowing journalists access to Cabinet papers, it appears he broke no laws. The Cabinet Manual, which sets out rules governing Cabinet papers. is not a law, so disobeying it is not an offence. Constitutional law sources contacted by “The Press” yesterday said that since the abolition of the Official Secrets Act, there were fewer legal constraints on the issuing of confidential documents. But it was likely that Mr Douglas and his supporters risked running foul of their own party constitution if they continued to act as they now were. This could eventually lead to the expulsion of one or more of the Douglas camp from the Labour caucus, said one constitutional expert, who asked not to be named.
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Press, 17 December 1988, Page 8
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131No law against revealing papers Press, 17 December 1988, Page 8
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