Supreme Justice

‘HAD the Prime Minister decided not to abolish the role of Lord Chancellor yesterday and replace the outgoing Lord Irvine of Lairg with a new face, the smart money was on the famous wallpaper getting the job.

”But who will feed and take care of the wallpaper?”

Reassuringly expensive, able to gloss over mistakes and the bare truth of things, and a good pal of Tony’s, the handmade wallpaper that sits proudly on what were Derry Irvine’s office walls has all the credentials for the job.

But it was not to be and the Independent says that Tony has abolished the 1,400-year-old office of the Lord Chancellor, replacing it and the Law Lords with an American-style Supreme Court.

One key benefit of this approach is that there will be an independent system for appointing judges, who as it stands are chosen by the Lord Chancellor.

It’s a change to the constitution that gets rid of arcane rites and introduces transparency and fairness.

And heading the cause, as the Guardian explains, will be Lord Falconer of Thornton, the new secretary of state for constitutional affairs.

That Falconer is a close pal of Tony’s, that he shared a flat with the PM in their student days is neither here nor there.

So let’s just relax and thank God – and/or Tony – that the dark days of cronyism and jobs for the boys are well and truly over…

‘

Posted: 13th, June 2003 | In: Broadsheets Comment | TrackBack | Permalink