High Court retirements and appointments...

Parker J retires

Sir Kenneth Parker (70) was called to the Bar (G) in 1975, took Silk in 1992 and elected as a Bencher in 2002. He was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1999 and a Recorder in 2000. He was appointed Deputy Chairman of the Information Tribunal and National Security Appeals Tribunal in 2001 (now known as Deputy Judge of the Upper Tribunal (Administrative Appeals Chamber) and Judge of the First Tier Tribunal (General Regulatory Chamber)). He was appointed a Recorder in 2005. He was appointed a Law Commissioner and approved to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2006. He was appointed a Judge of the High Court (Queen’s Bench Division) in 2009 and a Judge by Request (Upper Tribunal (Immigration Appeals Chamber)) in 2010.

Tony's bro (the one who went to Balliol) takes over the Commercial Court from Flaux J

Mr Justice (William James Lynton) Blair (65) was appointed as a Recorder in 1998, a Legal Chairman to the Financial Services and Markets Tribunal in 2001, a Chairman to the Pensions Regulator Tribunal in 2005 and became a High Court Judge of the Queen’s Bench Division in February 2008. He was then appointed as a Tribunal Judge in the Upper Tribunal Tax and Chancery in 2009 and First Tier Tax Chamber in 2010.

& David Richards LJ gets replaced by a QC from 4 New Square:
The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Michael Alexander Soole Esq QC, to be a Justice of the High Court with effect from 26 November 2015 on the elevation of Lord Justice (David) Richards to the Court of Appeal.
The Lord Chief Justice will assign Mr Soole to the Queen’s Bench Division.
Mr Soole, 61, was called to the Bar (I) in 1977 and took Silk in 2002. He was appointed as an Assistant Recorder in 1999 and as a Recorder in 2000, and is approved to sit as a deputy High Court Judge.  Former TECHBAR Chair, with any luck he'll get to sit in the TCC.

Jan Luba QC goes to the bench.....

This will strike fear into the landlords and local authorities of the bailiwicks of the County Court sitting at Central London and Mayor's and City....although my own experiences of him as a Recorder show him to be remarkably balanced....he was one of the few Recorders who could sit in the EAT because he did not undertake any work before it, although he did add some interesting cases to its repertoire. Perhaps he will sit there again when not busy clearing the housing lists.....

Most recently Chamber UK 2016 said:
"The leading silk for tenant-side work. He has had a long and successful career at the cutting edge of housing law developments.” It is said that he is “At the top of his game – there’s nothing that can be said about him that hasn’t already been said.”

The Queen has appointed Jan Luba QC to be a Circuit Judge on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Michael Gove MP, and the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd.

The Lord Chief Justice has deployed him to the South Eastern Circuit, based at Central London and Mayor’s & City of London County Courts with effect from 21 December 2015.
Jan Luba, aged 58, will be known as His Honour Judge Luba QC. He was called to Bar (M) in 1980 and took Silk in 2000. He was appointed as a Recorder in 2000.

I wonder if he will stop co-writing "Defending Possession Proceedings" unlike his previous co-author, now HHJ Madge?

Fluctuat nec mergitur

CHANGES AT THE TOP & AND NEW HIGH COURT JUDGE

From January 2016, Mr Justice Cranston will succeed Mr Justice Ouseley as Judge in Charge of the Administrative Court.Cranston was once Solicitor-General under Blair and now he is in charge of holding HMG to account.  He has some big shoes to fill following the awesome Ouseley J.

From January 2016, Mr Justice Coulson will assume responsibility as the Administrative Court Liaison Judge for the Western and Midland Circuits. Slightly suprising as a TCC/construction specliaist....

From January 2016, Mr Justice Lewis will assume responsibility as the Administrative Court Liaison Judge for Wales. Not at all surprising that this former public law specialist and former Standing Counsel to the NAW gets this job....

From November 2015, Mrs Justice Patterson will succeed Lord Justice Lindblom as Planning Liaison Judge.  This is also to be expected given My Lady's experience and previous professional life....

IN OTHER NEWS

Lord Justice Aikens retires as Lord Justice of Appeal with effect from 2 November 2015

Sir Richard John Pearson Aikens (67) was called to the Bar (M) in 1973, took Silk in 1986 and elected a Bencher in 1994. He was Junior Counsel to the Crown, Common Law, from 1981 to 1986, a Member of the Supreme Court Rules Committee from 1984 to 1988, appointed a Recorder in 1993, a deputy Judge of the High Court (Queen’s Bench and Chancery Division) in 1998 and a Judge of the High Court (Queen’s Bench Division) in 1999. He was appointed Presiding Judge for the South East Circuit from 2001 to 2004, Judge in charge of the Commercial Court from 2005 to 2006 and a Lord Justice of Appeal in 2008, when he was sworn as a Privy Councillor.

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Neil Stephen Garnham Esq QC to be a Justice of the High Court with effect from 3 November 2015 on the elevation of Mr. Justice Lindblom to the Court of Appeal.

This is expected given his track record at public inquiries and high profile inquests.....,

The Lord Chief Justice will assign Mr Garnham to the Queen’s Bench Division

Mr Garnham, 56, was called to the Bar (M) in 1982 and took Silk in 2001. He was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1999, as a Recorder in 2000 and is approved to sit as a deputy High Court Judge.

Mr Justice Lindblom was called to the Bar (G) in 1980 and took Silk in 1996. He was appointed a Recorder in 2001 and a judge of the Queen’s Bench Division of the High Court in 2010.

Rational Federal Constitution for the United Kingdom or a fathomless hokey cokey: EVEL

How to solve the West Lothian question?

Well now we have the answer:

Or as Kenny and Gover put it:

Under the new procedures the Commons Speaker will be required to ‘certify’ bills, or clauses within them, that meet two criteria: first, they relate only to England (or England and Wales); and second, comparable policy decisions are devolved elsewhere in the UK. On such legislation, MPs representing English (or English and Welsh) constituencies will have the opportunity to give their ‘consent’ to the provisions, through two new mechanisms: first, a Legislative Grand Committee of English (or English and Welsh) MPs will vote on a ‘consent motion’ prior to the bill’s third reading; and second, a ‘double-majority’ voting system will apply when MPs consider Lords amendments (which will also apply on secondary legislation). The effect of these reforms is a ‘double veto’: to pass, certified legislation will require the support both of UK-wide MPs and those representing English (and/or English and Welsh) constituencies. Detailed discussion of the government’s original proposals can be found here. These changes will come into effect immediately, and will affect the passage of a number of bills, even though there is no immediate threat of a ‘West Lothian’ situation in the House of Commons.

I don't quite follow the double veto system.  If you are following the logic, then surely Scots and NI MPs just shouldn't vote on these English/Welsh Bills/motions at all.  No wait, its not an English/Welsh Parliament is it, it is the UK Parliament and it can't pass laws unless a majority of English, Welsh, Scots, and NI MPs have voted in favour of the measure?  Hence the double in the double veto......clear?  As mud?

Come on let's have a constitutional convention to sort it all out?

TWO NEW HIGH COURT JUDGES

A female Circuit Judge from Wood Green Crown Court (HHJ Mary May QC) becomes May J to replace the much missed Akenhead J in the QBD.

and Senior Treasury Counsel at the Old Bailey and first ever female Asian occupant of the High Court bench (Bobbie Cheema- Grubb QC of 2 Hare Court) becomes Cheema-Grubb J to replace Kenneth Parker J in the QBD.  Both much needed criminal input to the High Court Bench.

Northern Ireland have also broken their own mould with their first ever female High Court Judges: McBride and Keegan JJ:

A Constitution?

The Commons Political and Constitutional Reform Select Committee have issued a draft Constitution .
Not a bad piece of work although the preamble leaves me a bit cold......what do you think?

PREAMBLE[54]

United, we stand in celebration of the diverse voices that make up the great chorus of our nation. Confident in our individuality, and steadfast in our shared values and common purpose, we—the citizens of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland—have come together in the spirit of self-determination in order to establish the principles of our law and governance.

 By this act, we create for ourselves a sovereign state, animated by many spirits, accountable to all. Conscious of the responsibility that we bear to future generations—and of their role in defending and regenerating this Constitution—we lay down maxims crafted to promote civic harmony, mutual tolerance, universal wellbeing, and social and political freedom.

 We embody these ideas in democratic government, and enshrine them in a system of law. And we empower each citizen to reform this design, by democratic process and political debate. By popular mandate, we establish this Constitution:

 To recognise every citizen as an equal partner in government—at a local, regional, and national level.

 To affirm that each citizen is entitled to fair and equitable treatment under the law.

 To establish the principle of equality of opportunity for all citizens.

 To eradicate poverty and want throughout the nation.

 To protect and cultivate community identities within the four great countries of the union: England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

 To preserve our common environment, and to hold it in trust for future generations.

 To safeguard freedom of thought, conscience, and assembly; and to facilitate peaceable dissent.

 And to protect these fundamental rights against the encroachment of tyranny and the abdication of reason.

 Through this undertaking, we remind one another of the benefits and duties of citizenship enshrined in membership of the United Kingdom, challenging ourselves to enact these principles throughout society.

 Let our example stand as an inspiration to the peoples of the world, and to their rulers and their governments.

 Let our principles animate our dedication to peace and justice in international affairs.

 And let our united resolve grow ever-stronger under the enlightened auspices of this Constitution.

THE UK CONSTITUTION

OUR DEMOCRATIC SETTLEMENT

The United Kingdom is a constitutional monarchy.[55]

Possible alternative:

The United Kingdom shall be a democracy where the people are sovereign.

There shall be a separation of powers guaranteeing an independent and elected executive and legislature, and an independent and impartial judiciary.

The United Kingdom shall operate as a Union of nations with power devolved to the lowest appropriate level.

Status

The United Kingdom constitution is composed of the laws and rules that create the institutions of the state, regulate the relationships between those institutions, or regulate the relationship between the state and the individual.

These laws and rules are not codified in a single, written document.

Constitutional laws and rules have no special legal status.

Possible alternative:

The Constitution of the United Kingdom shall be the basic law according to which the United Kingdom shall be governed. The Constitution shall have the highest legal status and all other laws and rules must be consistent with it.

New Legal Year Excitement

The usual processing to the Abbey and Breakfasting thereafter (doesn't Gove LC look lovely):

They had an Orthodox service in Melbourne earlier this year...ought to try that at home...

Apart from the usual excitement, look out for the Brand New Financial List in the Rolls Building, which is supported by a new Part 63A CPR and is going to be run by a partnership of the Commercial Court and the Chan D.  Also check out PD 51M which will allow this new judicial beast to hear claims without a cause of action, so called friendly actions:

2.1 The Financial Markets Test Case Scheme applies to a claim started in the Financial List which raises issues of general importance to the financial markets in relation to which immediately relevant authoritative English law guidance is needed (“a qualifying claim”).

2.2 In such cases the Financial Markets Test Case Scheme enables the qualifying claim to be determined without the need for a present cause of action between the parties to the proceedings.

Proceedings in the Financial Markets Test Case Scheme

2.3 Where there is a qualifying claim a person who is or was actively in business in the relevant market may, by mutual agreement, issue proceedings against another person who is or was actively in business in the relevant market provided that other person has opposing interests as to how the law of England and Wales issue(s) raised by the qualifying claim should be resolved.

THERE is another beast introduced into the wilds this month - "The County Court Legal Adviser"  - Barristers or Solicitors who will be able to do all sorts of judicial things at the County Court Business Centre and the County Court Claims Centre - like extending time for service of the Claim Form within the limitation period, permitting amendments to the POC before the Defence is in or stay proceedings by consent....if you don't like their orders you can ask the DJ to take another look.  Speaking of which I always like it when a DJ dresses up:

ALSO, there are some new Criminal Procedural Rules and a general revolution in criminal case management...about which I blissfully know nothing at all....

http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2015/1490/contents/made

NEW HIGH COURT JUDGES

In a previous post I lamented the retirement of Swift J - she is to be replaced as follows:

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Peter Donald Fraser Esq QC to be a Justice of the High Court with effect from 1 October 2015 on the retirement of Mrs Justice Swift.

Mr Fraser, 52, was called to the Bar (M) in 1989 and took Silk in 2009. He was appointed a Recorder in 2002 and is approved to sit as a deputy High Court Judge. He is a construction expert from Atkin Chambers who I expect will find his way eventually to the TCC/Commercial Court

Meantime Simon J also gets a replacement:

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Mrs Philippa Jane Edwards Whipple QC to be a Justice of the High Court with effect from 1 October 2015 on the elevation of Mr Justice Simon.
Mrs Whipple, 49, was called to the Bar by the Middle Temple in 1994 and took Silk in 2010. She was appointed a Recorder in 2005 and is approved to sit as a deputy High Court Judge. She is public/tax/health law specialist from 1 COR who will probably end up in the Admin Court.  She was leading counsel to the Gibson Detainee Inquiry.  She also came a cropper when she tried to appear in the Court of Session without advocacy rights.....

Longest to reign over us

God save our gracious Queen! 

Long live our noble Queen! 

God save the Queen! 

Send her victorious, 

Happy and glorious, 

Long to reign over us, 

God save the Queen.

Thy choicest gifts in store 

On her be pleased to pour, 

Long may she reign. 

May she defend our laws, 

And ever give us cause, 

To sing with heart and voice, 

God save the Queen.

The runners and riders:

№	Name	Reign		Duration
		From	To	days	years, days
1	Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom	6 February 1952	Present	23,226	63 years, 215 days
2	Victoria of the United Kingdom	20 June 1837	22 January 1901	23,226	63 years, 216 days
3	George III of the United Kingdom	25 October 1760	29 January 1820	21,644	59 years, 96 days
4	James VI of Scotland	24 July 1567	27 March 1625	21,066	57 years, 246 days
5	Henry III of England and Lord of Ireland	18 October 1216	16 November 1272	20,483	56 years, 29 days
6	Edward III of England and Lord of Ireland	25 January 1327	21 June 1377	18,410	50 years, 147 days
7	William I of Scotland	9 December 1165	4 December 1214	17,892	48 years, 360 days
8	Elizabeth I of England and Ireland	17 November 1558	24 March 1603	16,198	44 years, 127 days
9	Llywelyn of Gwynedd	1 January 1195	11 April 1240	>16,172	44–45 years (approximately)
10	David II of Scotland	7 June 1329	22 February 1371	15,235	41 years, 260 days

NEW MANCHESTER MERCANTILE JUDGE

Presumably to replace the much vaunted Judge Waksman who has gone South to act as the London Mercantile Judge (replacing Judge Mackie) and hearing those London commercial cases which fall short in value and importance of the Commercial Court's purview, comes a former Partner of Linklaters no less (yes, a female solicitor -  that'll be noticed by the locals around King/St John's Streets) - already she has been exercising her skills as a Dep High Ct Judge (and will no doubt remain a section 9 Judge in Manchester) and as a Recorder ( http://www.christianconcern.com/our-concerns/judge-rules-against-christian-bb-owner ).  She is ex Cheltenham Ladies, and Clare College Cambridge, was an articled clerk at Linklaters in 1982, and became a partner in 1991, and then after a stint in house at Vodafone, again returned to the Linklaters' partnership in 2002.  She is a capital market expert and now has to get to grips with the mercantile case load of the North West:

The Queen has appointed Jane Clare Moulder to be a Specialist Mercantile Circuit Judge on the advice of the Lord Chancellor, the Right Honourable Michael Gove MP and the Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales, the Right Honourable The Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd.

The Lord Chief Justice has deployed her to the Northern Circuit, based at Manchester Civil Justice Centre with effect from 18 September 2015.

Notes to editors

Jane Clare Moulder, aged 55, will be known as Her Honour Judge Moulder. She was admitted as a solicitor in 1984. She was appointed as a Recorder in 2010.

JUDICIAL APPOINTMENTS AND RETIREMENTS AT THE END OF ANOTHER JUDICIAL YEAR

NEW SENIOR PRESIDENT OF TRIBUNALS:

To preside over the Presidents of the Chambers of the UT and FTT, Ryder LJ to replace Sullivan LJ who is retiring.  He's a TD, DL of Greater Manchester, Chancellor of Bolton University and formerly of the Fam D.

NEWLY NAMED TO THE C OF A:

The following will be swapping red for gold (tabs) in the near future:

Mr Justice Hamblen

Mr Justice Hamblen was called to the Bar, Lincoln’s Inn, 1981 and practised at the Commercial Bar from 1982 to 2008. He was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1997. He was appointed Assistant Recorder in 1999–2000; Recorder, 2000–08. A Judge of the High Court, Queen’s Bench Division, since 2008 and designated as a Judge of the Commercial Court.

Mr Justice Lindblom

Mr Justice Lindblom was called to the Bar of England and Wales at Gray’s Inn in 1980. He was called to the Bar of Northern Ireland in 2002. He was admitted to the Hong Kong Bar in 2000 and 2008, and to the Bar of the Turks and Caicos Islands in 2006. He became a Bencher of Gray’s Inn in 2003. He practised as a barrister from 1981 to 2010, was appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1996, became a Recorder in 2001 and was authorised to sit as a Deputy High Court Judge in 2009. He has been a Judge of the High Court of Justice, Queen’s Bench Division, since October 2010, President of the Upper Tribunal (Lands Chamber) since 2013, and Planning Liaison Judge (the lead judge of the Planning Court) since 2014.  Will be interesting to see who will take over the Lands Chamber and the Planning Court?

Mr Justice (David) Richards

(with the High Sherriff of Shropshire, wife of Charles Flint QC)

Mr Justice (David) Richards was called to the Bar, Inner Temple, 1974. Bencher, Lincoln’s Inn, in 2000. Junior Counsel (Chancery), DTI, 1989–92. He became Queen’s Counsel 1992. Contrib 2000–, Joint General Editor 2009–, Buckley on the Companies Acts. A Judge of the High Court, Chancery Division, since 2003. Vice Chancellor, County Palatine of Lancaster, 2008–11.

Mr Justice Simon

Mr Justice Simon was called to the Bar, Middle Temple, 1973. Bencher in 1999. He became Queen’s Counsel in 1991. A Recorder in 1998–2002. A Deputy High Court Judge in 1999–2002. A Judge of the High Court, Queen’s Bench Division, since 2002; Presiding Judge, North Eastern Circuit, 2006–08.  

He is son of Lord SImon of Glaisdale, who I don't think sat in the C of A, because he was President of the Old Probate, Divorce and Admiralty Division, after being an MP and Solicitor General.  He entered the H of L as a Life Peer, but was entitled to sit in the Appellate Committee.

And they have started replacing them already:

The Queen has been pleased to approve the appointment of Henry James Carr Esq QC, to be a Justice of the High Court with effect from 1 October 2015.

The Lord Chief Justice will assign Mr Carr to the Chancery Division.

Mr Carr, 57, was called to the Bar (G) in 1982, and took Silk in 1998. He was appointed as a Deputy Chairman of the Copyright Tribunal in 2007, and is approved to sit as a deputy High Court Judge.  He is a specialist IP practitioner from 11 South Square.

& most regretfully, Swift J has retired early, I would have look forward to seeing her rise to the highest judicial offices:

Dame Caroline Swift DBE (60) was called to the Bar (I) in 1977, elected as a Bencher in 1997 and took silk in 1993. She was appointed an Assistant Recorder in 1992, a Recorder in 1995, a deputy High Court Judge (Queen’s Bench and Chancery Divisions) in 2000 and was Leading Counsel to the Shipman Inquiry from 2001 to 2005. She was appointed a Judge of the High Court, Queen’s Bench Division in 2005 and was a Member of the Judicial College Senior Judiciary Planning Group from 2010 to 2014.

FEES- THE ONLY WAY IS UP

Gove and the Govt are thinking about putting Court and Tribunal fees up again.  Indeed they are thinking of introducing fees where currently there are none:









For example:

• The general fee cap of £10,000, rising to £20,000 (but not for PI)
• A general 10% uplift on civil fees all round.
• Civil possession claim from £280 to £355.  As most of those are brought by local authorities and social housing providers, the flow of cash would be a little circular.
• General Part 23 Applications - from £50 to £100 if without notice and from £155 to £255 otherwise.
• Divorce is going up from £410 to £750; why not profit from those going through one of the worst periods of their life.
• Want to appeal to the C of A, was £235, went up to £480, in future - £528??
• Want a hearing in the Immigration Chamber of the FTT?  £280 up from £140.
• Want to challenge your landlord in the Leasehold bit of the FTT?  £2,000 for hearing, currently nil!
• Want to challenge an FOI refusal from HMG in the FTT - currently free, in future £500!
• Don't like a HMRC decision, want to appeal to the Tax Chamber of the FTT -  all currently free - fees to be introduced, up to £1000?

Thinking that all of that is a bit of a step too far....

Respond to the consultation here - https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/further-fees-proposal-consultation/supporting_documents/enhancedfeesresponseconsultationonfurtherfees.pdf 

Gove consulting on closing Bow, Lambeth, Hammersmith and Woolwich "County Courts"

A judge once told me that Bow County Court (as it was then, now - The County Court sitting at Bow (which makes no sense because it doesn't - its sits just outside Stratford...)) was the busiest civil court in Europe.  Which did not surprise me as when I used to go there regularly it was standing room only.  Probably being located in a very deprived area and having both a civil and family jurisdiction (which may well now have been hived off to the new Family Court sitting in Canary Wharf) is what did the trick.  If it were both a possession day and a family day, then it was also a total chaos, waiting around til 6pm to be seen by a stressed judge, day. MoJ want to close it and move everything to Clerkenwell and Shoreditch at Gee St (itself an amalgamation of some historic county courts.....)   Good luck C & S (and B?)....they'll be standing in the aisles and hanging from the roof on possession day..............

Lambeth is usually also about as busy as it gets and it covers a massive part of South London not

otherwise covered by Bromley, Wandsworth which is where its work is going...... and errr Woolwich, which is also being consulted upon for closure and transfer of its work to Bromley.  

Hammersmith is also up for closure with its work also going to Wandsworth to make way for Feltham Mags which is to be squeezed into Hammersmith Mags which is where Hammersmith Cty Ct is currently co-located (after its West Kensignton West London CC much loved foreunner was abolished.)  

Woolwich's work is to be packed off to Bromley (which is err, not local to Woolwich.....especially given its catchment runs into Dartford's)

Good bye to more of my favourite once daily forensic hunting grounds and perhaps more importantly, good bye to local judges dispensing local justice to the locals who did not have far to go.....

Check out the paper - it proposes the following closures, your favourites/essential local justice provider may on the list and you might want to object/protest:

London Bow County Court Feltham Magistrates’ Court Greenwich Magistrates’ Court Hammersmith County Court (formerly West London County Court) Lambeth County Court Pocock Street Tribunal Hearing Centre Richmond-upon-Thames Magistrates’ Court Tottenham Magistrates’ Court Waltham Forest Magistrates’ Court Woolwich County Court Midlands Birmingham Youth Court Burton-upon-Trent Magistrates’ Court Buxton Magistrates’ and County Court Corby Magistrates’ Court Grantham Magistrates’ Court 15 Hinckley Magistrates’ Court Kettering County Court Kettering Magistrates’ Court Sandwell Magistrates’ Court Shrewsbury Magistrates’ Court Skegness Magistrates’ Court Solihull Magistrates’ Court Stafford Magistrates’ Court Worksop Magistrates’ Court North East Consett Magistrates’ Court Halifax County Court and Family Court Halifax (Calderdale) Magistrates’ and Family Court Hartlepool Magistrates’ Court and County Court Morpeth County Court Rotherham Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Family Court Scunthorpe Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Family Court Wakefield Magistrates’ Court North West Accrington County Court Accrington Magistrates’ Court Bolton County Court and Family Court Bury Magistrates’ Court and County Court Kendal Magistrates’ Court and County Court Macclesfield County Court Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court Oldham County Court Proposal on the provision of court and tribunal estate in England and Wales Oldham Magistrates’ Court Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court and Family Court Runcorn (Halton) Magistrates’ Court St Helens Magistrates’ Court and County Court Stockport Magistrates’ Court and County Court Tameside County Court Trafford Magistrates’ Court and Altrincham County Court Warrington County Court West Cumbria Magistrates’ Court and County Court South East Aylesbury Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Family Court Basildon Social Security and Child Support Tribunal (Acorn House) Bedford and Mid Beds Magistrates’ Court and Family Court and Bedford County Court and Family Court Bicester Magistrates’ Court and Family Court Bury St. Edmunds Magistrates’ Court and Family Court and Bury St. Edmunds Crown Court Chichester Combined Court (Crown and County) Chichester Magistrates’ Court Colchester County Court and Family Court Colchester County Court Offices Dartford Magistrates’ Court Dover Magistrates’ Court Eastbourne Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Family Court Harlow Magistrates’ Court Kings Lynn County Court and Family Court Lowestoft Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Family Court Redhill Magistrates’ Court and Family Court and Reigate County Court and Family Court 17 St Albans County Court Tunbridge Wells County Court and Family Court Watford Magistrates’ Court and Family Court West Berkshire (Newbury) Magistrates’ Court South West Barnstaple Crown Court Bath Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Family Court or North Avon (Yate) Magistrates’ Court Bournemouth Magistrates’ Court Cheltenham Rivershill House Tribunal Chippenham Magistrates’ Court, Civil Court and Family Court Dorchester Crown Court Fareham Magistrates’ Court Gloucester Magistrates’ Court North Avon (Yate) Magistrates’ Court or Bath Magistrates’ Court, County Court and Family Court Stroud Magistrates’ Court Torquay Magistrates’ Court Wales Brecon Law Courts Bridgend Law Courts Carmarthen Civil, Family, Tribunal and Probate Hearing Centre Carmarthen Law Courts (The Guildhall) Dolgellau Crown and Magistrates’ Court Holyhead Magistrates’ Court Llangefni Civil and Family Court Neath and Port Talbot Civil and Family Court Pontypridd Magistrates’ Court Proposal on the provision of court and tribunal estate in England and Wales Prestatyn Magistrates’ Court Wrexham Tribunal (Rhyd Broughton)  

Who are these characters? Unelected Ministers....

There has never been a need to be elected to be a Minister nor indeed to be a member or either House of Parliament at the time of your appointment.  I could be made a Minister right now and exercise the Crown's powers without ever being made a member of either House of Parliament.  Although without a means of holding me to account people might get a little angsty and demand I attend Parliament to answer questions.  There has always been the option of co-opting non Parliamentarian experts into Government by the means of a Life Peerage, but I have to say I have rarely seen so many made up at once (see below).  The SNP is a bit upset about Lord Dunlop because the Tory's single MP in Scotland means that they have had to make up a Lord to find someone else to deputise for the S of S of Scotland (that one single Tory MP).......Maude is understandable, and Bridges is just promotion for an in house policy wonk.  O'Neill, Altmann and Prior are sector SMEs brought in to help in tricky areas - but do they have any legitimacy in Govt?

Lord Dunlop is a former adviser to the Prime Minister on devolved constitutional issues. He was formerly the head of policy and research for the Scottish Conservative Party, special adviser to the Defence Secretary and a member of the Downing Street Policy Unit. He was appointed Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Scotland Office on 14 May 2015.

Lord Maude of Horsham served as MP for Horsham, West Sussex (1997-2015). He held several government posts, including Financial Secretary to the Treasury (1990-1992), and Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (1989-1990). He is also a former chair of the Conservative Party (2005-2007). He was appointed Minister of State for Trade and Investment on 11 May 2015.

Baroness Altmann was the coalition government’s Business Champion for Older Workers and is a former non-executive policy adviser to the Policy Unit at 10 Downing Street. She was appointed Minister of State for Pensions on 11 May 2015.

Lord O'Neill of Gatley is a former chief economist at Goldman Sachs. He was appointed Commercial Secretary to the Treasury on 14 May 2015.  

Lord Bridges of Headley is a former chair of the Conservative Research Department, and was the Conservative Party's campaign director (2006-2007). He was appointed Parliamentary Secretary for the Cabinet Office on 14 May 2015.

Lord Prior of Brampton is a former chair of the Care Quality Commission (2013-2015). He served as MP for North Norfolk (1997-2001) and is a former deputy chair and CEO of the Conservative Party. He was appointed Minister for NHS Productivity in May 2015.