Leaving EU won’t harm UK law, say top judges
BRITAIN’S leading judges have spoken out to nail ‘the lie’ that leaving the EU will undermine the rule of law in Britain.
Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas acted to undermine attempts by foreign lawyers to exploit uncertainty and draw lucrative business disputes away from British courts.
In a speech to fellow judges, Lord Thomas, who is head of the judiciary, said: ‘Brexit does not affect the quality or certainty of English law, or the standing of our courts or London’s arbitration centres. They remain as before June last year.
‘The perception of some may, however, be that this is not the case. Such a perception is fuelled by our competitors for their own advantage.
‘Rumour may insinuate that English law is no longer certain, that London is no longer a safe forum to bring disputes. Such rumours are wrong. Rumour must, however, be countered if we are to ensure that the lie repeated does not, as it must not, be taken as truth.’
The firm line from the Lord Chief Justice follows an assertion last month from Supreme Court President Lord Neuberger that Brexit was likely to improve rather than damage the status of British courts.
Both judges have previously been seen as opponents of Brexit.
But Lord Neuberger said: ‘Brexit does not alter the fact that lawyers and judges in the UK are as internationally minded and expert as they ever have been.
‘Indeed... Brexit will operate, and it is already operating, as a spur to encourage all involved in the provision of legal services in London to ensure those services are even better than they already are.’
WHATEVER our criticisms of the High Court and the Supreme Court over Brexit, never let it be said that the Mail hasn’t got a kind word to say about the legal profession, or indeed its most eminent practitioners, the judiciary.
Indeed, this week our two most senior judges have done much to defy the cruel caricature of the legal establishment – that it is out of touch with the public.
First Lord Neuberger, the president of the Supreme Court, and then Lord Thomas, the Lord Chief Justice, argued convincingly that Brexit can boost, rather than undermine, London’s standing as a global legal centre.
Talking Britain up and embracing Brexit: truly, they are friends of the people!