MP claims Jeremy Kyle should face criminal charges for refusing to provide evidence

Tory MP Damian Collins has claimed that Jeremy Kyle should be prosecuted for refusing to provide evidence in the investigation into his cancelled ITV show.

Collins, who is the Chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said that there needs to be “clear, real-world sanctions” for those who refuse to comply with a request to provide evidence.

The Jeremy Kyle Show was investigated by a committee last week following the suicide of guest Steve Dymond, who died just days after failing a lie detector test that claimed he cheated on his fiancée.

Kyle was asked to provide evidence, but he did not attend the committee’s investigation, prompting Collins for further action to be taken.

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Speaking to The Guardian, the MP said: "I believe we need to formalise powers and have clear real-world sanctions for those that refuse to comply with a request to provide evidence.”

Collins then added that refusal to provide evidence carries a possible prison sentence in the US.

"In the US, such behaviour is treated as a criminal offence, just as perjury in court would be.

"These committees have become a place where parliament can stand up for the interests of the people.

"I am strongly in favour of real-world sanctions for those who fail to comply with parliamentary committees."

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Before the hearing, Collins said: "We believe that Jeremy Kyle himself should be an important witness to [our inquiry] as the show is based around him as the lead presenter of it.

"We have sent an invitation to Mr Kyle through his representatives. And we have received word back from them that he has declined to appear in front of the committee on Tuesday next week."

"We will be pursuing this matter with his representatives to fully understand the reasons why he has declined.”