...and she’s blasted over her ‘failure to stick up for judges’

LIZ Truss was also criticised yesterday by the Lord Chief Justice for failing to speak out in defence of the judges who made the landmark Brexit ruling last autumn.

Lord Thomas said the Justice Secretary, who is also Lord Chancellor, had been ‘constitutionally wrong’. He was one of the three High Court judges who ruled that Parliament, not the Prime Minister, had the final say on triggering Article 50 in the politically fraught judgement.

Lord Thomas added that after the decision, he had asked the police for safety advice and circuit judges had complained of being told they were an ‘enemy of the people’ in court.

‘Enemies of the people’ was the front-page headline with which the Daily Mail reported the ruling. Miss Truss declined to attack newspapers over coverage of the case, saying it was not her role to tell the media what to write.

But the Lord Chief Justice said it was the role of Miss Truss, who as Lord Chancellor represents judges in the Government, to defend them.

He told the Lords Constitution Committee: ‘I can understand how the pressures were on but she has taken a position that is constitutionally, absolutely wrong. There is a difference between criticism and abuse, and I don’t think that is understood.

‘I don’t think it is understood either how essential it is that we are protected because we have to act as our oath requires us without fear or favour.’

This month, Miss Truss also declined to criticise newspapers during an appearance before the same committee.

She told peers: ‘It is dangerous for a minister to say “this is an acceptable headline and this isn’t” because I am a huge believer in the independence of the judiciary, I am also a very strong believer in the free press.’