Oral Answers to Questions

Jamie Stone Excerpts

Tuesday 8th October 2019 Commons Chamber

[Lucy Frazer]

I can, very briefly, assure my right hon. Friend that we are looking at the recategorisation of offenders to ensure that they are in the right prisons for them.

[Jamie Stone (Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross) (LD)]

7. What the Government’s policy is on maintaining the independence of the judiciary.

[The Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice (Robert Buckland)]

An independent judiciary is the cornerstone of our constitution and our democracy, and we are rightly proud of our world-class judiciary. As Lord Chancellor, I have sworn an oath to defend its independence. I take that extremely seriously and will continue to defend its independence vigorously.

[Jamie Stone]

I am encouraged to hear that answer. That is why—thank God—we are not a totalitarian state. I have a rather scary bit of advice for the Lord Chancellor: could he share his thoughts with No. 10 and perhaps Mr Dominic Cummings?

[Robert Buckland]

I think that everybody—whichever part of Government or our country they might come from—will probably be aware of my public pronouncements about this matter. I will keep saying it again and again and again, as long as it is necessary to do so.