Minister at odds with Johnson on judges

JUSTICE Secretary Robert Buckland has insisted he would be against any move towards the political appointment of judges.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson suggested last September that Britain’s most senior judges could be appointed on partisan lines, as he accused the Supreme Court of extending its remit into “a political question” following the decision to rule his prorogation of parliament illegal.

At present British Supreme Court judges are appointed by the Queen on the advice of the Prime Minister. However, they are chosen by senior judges, and the PM is legally obliged to follow their recommendation.

Mr Buckland told BBC Radio 5 Live’s Pienaar’s Politics: “I don’t want to see a system of judges being put in front of select committees and asked about their political past or views.

“I would be extremely worried if we ended up in that situation.”

“As a matter of discussion it is bound to be part of discussion, but I as Lord Chancellor can tell you I do not want to see a situation in this country where we have political appointment of judges.”

Asked what he would say if Boris Johnson’s adviser Dominic Cummings brought the issue up, Mr Buckland replied: “I just think it’s an unnecessary approach.

“I’m open to debate and discussion, which is why the independent commission is being set up, but I think there are other ways in which we can do the job of re-balancing the constitution, supporting the judiciary in their work but also making sure that it is ultimately Parliament that is sovereign, it is Parliament that is supreme.”