Judicial Independence

Lord Goldsmith Excerpts

Wednesday 7th December 2016 Lords Chamber

[Lord Brown of Eaton-under-Heywood (CB)]

My Lords—

[Lord Goldsmith (Lab)]

My Lords—

--- Later in debate ---

[Lord Henley]

The noble and learned Lord is quite right, and right to emphasise that judges have in themselves very thick skins—the noble and learned Lord will know this. It is also right, as I made clear in my original Answer, that we are very keen to see greater understanding of the role of the judiciary and how it operates. The Government will continue to support that.

[Lord Goldsmith]

My Lords, it is not just understanding what the judges do that matters but the confidence to which the Minister himself referred. Does he agree that as we look forward, if we do, to a post-Brexit world we will need to have utter confidence in our legal system to reassure business and to attract foreign investors, and that anything that is done now to damage that long-term future by applauding short-term political name-calling is to be regretted?

[Lord Henley]

My Lords, I think that I can only repeat what my noble and learned friend said earlier; we have the utmost faith in the judiciary and will continue to do so.