QUENTIN LETTS: Once Robert Jenrick locks on to you, its like seeing a Sidewinder missile chaser a Tiger Moth
Shabana Mahmood kept gabbling: I have taken an oaf! Who was this oaf? Did she effect a citizens arrest?But Lord Chancellor Mahmood merely meant that when she assumed her historic office she swore an oath to respect the rule of law and defend the independence of the judiciary.
Shabana Mahmood kept gabbling: I have taken an oaf! Who was this oaf? Did she effect a citizens arrest?
But Lord Chancellor Mahmood merely meant that when she assumed her historic office she swore an oath to respect the rule of law and defend the independence of the judiciary.
Now she was sweating at the withers, eyes darting as she leaned her elbows on the Commons despatch box.
If there was any swearing on her mind now it was possibly of a fruitier variety. Ms Mahmoods Tory shadow, Robert Jenrick, has had her in all sorts of difficulties over the Sentencing Councils two-tier justice gambit.
The efficient Jenrick: crisp soundbites, slick videos, a beady eye on this politically correct measure that the snootocracy loves but the public hates.
Bobby J has even lost a ton of weight, his jawline now worthy of an underpants model.
Mr Jenrick is, to government ministers and possibly to his own party leader, a man to beware.
Poor Ms Mahmood was in the Commons to announce that the Government (prop: the Nasal Knight KC) had lost patience with those barmy beaks.
Robert Jenrick is, to government ministers and possibly to his own party leader, a man to beware, writes Quentin Letts
The Sentencing Council had finally agreed to postpone its advice until an emergency law could be passed to stop it.
Ms Mahmood had held constructive talks with the Councils chairman, Lord Justice Davis, and was grateful to him. Hearty laughter on all sides.
The minister spoke of the perception of differential treatment judges might have given criminals from minorities.
Yelps from the Tories showed that to them there was no perception about this. The differential treatment was all too real.
As Mr Jenrick would put it, perhaps a little infelicitously, the two-tier justice was black and white.
Two-tier: Sir Keir hates that. The rhyme nibbles at his liver. Makes him thrash and corkscrew under his continental quilt at night.
Two-tier Keir, two-tier Keir. Complete and utter lawyer though he may be, there was no way he could allow the Sentencing Council to get away with this political ponger.
Self-preservation always comes first for the Prime Minister.
Jenrick has had Shabana Mahmood in all sorts of difficulties over the Sentencing Councils two-tier justice gambit, writes Quentin Letts
It seems unlikely that the Government would have acted but for Mr Jenricks sinuous agitations.
Tories are badly outnumbered in the Commons but he has shown they can achieve things.
There was a small but supportive crowd of Conservative MPs in the chamber yesterday.
They cheered as Mr Jenrick laid into Ms Mahmood and the activist judges seeking to undermine the rule of law.
It was a fluent, noisy attack, his voice sharp enough to pierce yet not so acidic as to anguish the ear.
What did the Lord Chancellor think of Lord Justice Davis? And what about another Sentencing Council member, Johanna Robinson, previously head of strategy for the office of the police and crime commissioner for Gwent?
One of the great offices of the body politic, egad.
If I were Ms Robinson, Id quit now. Once Jenrick has locked on to you, its like seeing a Sidewinder missile chase a Tiger Moth.
Kemi Badenoch radiated patient calm and much that she said was sound as she attacked the Governments awful-April tax whacks - but none of it was as effective or jaunty as Jenrick
Ms Mahmood deplored her oppos focus on personal attacks. I bet she did. Shes on the receiving end of plenty of it!
Graham Stringer (Lab, Blackley and Middleton S) was his normal helpful self and backed Mr Jenricks calls for the Sentencing Council to be catapulted into outer orbit. Ms Mahmood sucked on her teeth.
Ive taken an oaf, she said once more. The oath in question dates only to 2005 when Charlie Falconer, shop steward of the legal elite, was still in his magnificence.
Before that a Lord Chancellor swore to do right to all manner of people after the laws and usages of this realm, without fear or favour, affection or ill will.
Nothing about looking after the judges in that.
In other news Kemi Badenoch held a morning event in a corridor at Tory HQ. She attacked the Governments awful-April tax whacks.
She radiated patient calm and much that she said was sound.
But none of it was as effective or jaunty as Jenrick.