Almost all the Harry Potter books feature an introduction to
the new Professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts. This is usually because the
previous incumbent has come to a nasty end in the previous book.
All of which brings me to the latest Secretary of State for
Justice, a position which is renewed with similar regularity, possibly for
similar reasons. Our latest Lord Chancellor is Robert Buckland QC, who was
previously, Solicitor General and then Minister of State. Firstly, it is encouraging
that for the second appointment in a row we have a lawyer in the most important
legal role in government! Long gone are the days of Liz Truss, who failed to
speak out in defence of the judiciary following the infamous ‘Enemies of the People’.
Going back even further there was that other guy; the one who gave a ferry
contract to a company with no ferries.
In Robert Buckland we have a lawyer who was previously a
working barrister and who spent time on the bench as a Recorder from 2009. When
did we last have a Lord Chancellor who has served as a judge? He should understand the real world of law and
justice.
Indeed, he has received a major testimonial from none other than @BarristerSecret who tweeted –
Indeed, he has received a major testimonial from none other than @BarristerSecret who tweeted –
‘Gosh. A sensible appointment. I’m a little lost for words.’
He also worked under David Gauke. I think that most of us
would agree that he did a reasonably good job within the huge financial
restrictions imposed on the MOJ. His work on prison reform was encouraging. Mr
Buckland will hopefully bring some continuity to a role where it has been sadly
lacking for many years. He has also previously served on the Joint Committee on
Human Rights.
On the downside, he has voted against laws to promote
equality and human rights –
He also supported the massive cuts to Legal Aid –
But then, he is a Conservative Minister, so we world hardly
expect him to have risen through the ranks if had had not toed the line. Whilst
his party remains in government, these attitudes will go with the territory.
But, on balance, he is as good as we might expect this side
of a General Election.
At a time when the world of politics has never been in
greater turmoil, he brings to the table an experienced pair of hands who knows
far more about the real world of law, than many of his predecessors.
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