On Tuesday, Prime Minister David Cameron shuffled his Cabinet. As a result, Secretary of State for Justice Ken Clarke has become ‘Minister without Portfolio’ while Chris Grayling – previously Minister of State for Employment at the Department for Work and Pensions – takes over Clarke’s old role.
His elevation to the post of Lord Chancellor and justice secretary represents something of a political comeback for the Cambridge University-educated former BBC News producer, who had served as Shadow Home Secretary ahead of the 2010 General Election but was then made employment minister in the coalition and not handed the Cabinet role many had expected.
In addition, this new appointment for the Conservative MP serving Epsom and Ewell is seen by some commentators as a reassurance to those Conservatives unhappy at predecessor Clarke’s stance on prison reform.
Speaking about the appointment, permanent secretary Ursula Brennan said: “I’m delighted to welcome Chris Grayling to the Ministry of Justice. He joins us in the midst of a radical programme to reform the justice system. One of the first things we will be discussing is his vision for the justice system and how we will deliver this.”
Brennan also paid tribute to Ken Clarke “for the leadership he has given the department and the extent of the reform that he has delivered.”
Friend of the Human Rights Act
Liberty director Shami Chakrabarti has been swift to express her views on this element of the Cabinet reshuffle, referring to Clarke and Britain’s “internationally admired justice system” as “national treasures”.
Chakrabarti commented: “We hope that, following the reshuffle, Ken Clarke remains a staunch friend of the Human Rights Act and penal reform at the Cabinet table, but also worry that his past positions on legal aid and secret courts leave a dangerous legacy for access to justice in our country.”
Referring specifically to Clarke’s replacement at the Ministry of Justice, Chakrabarti explained: “To be fair, a closer look at our tough-talking new Lord Chancellor reveals a principled stance as Shadow Home Secretary in opposition against ID cards and blanket DNA retention. He even cited the European Court of Human Rights in his cause. Further, when the last Government mooted the ‘Snoopers’ Charter’, now adopted by the Coalition as a draft Bill, Chris Grayling accused ministers of having ‘built a culture of surveillance which goes far beyond terrorism and crime’. We must wait to see if this view has changed.”
Grayling is reportedly critical of Human Rights but has also written that: “Our justice system and society are based on fundamental principles” [that no Government has the right to change].
“Liberty looks forward to reminding him of this in defending the Human Rights Act,” stressed Chakrabarti, “and asking him to rethink the odious Justice and Security Bill which would create secret courts and place Government above the law.”
Adjustments to the Shadow Cabinet
Elsewhere, Liberty is “sorry” to see Edward Garnier QC lose his Solicitor General post in the shuffle. “He always seemed to us to be a lawyer first and a politician second,” urged Chakrabarti. “A very good quality in any law officer.”
Liberty’s director pointed out that former Tory Party chairman Baroness Sayeeda Warsi “has to be respected” for her work as the first Muslim woman Cabinet member “capable of robust attacks on racism” – both inside her party and well beyond it.
“We hope that Baroness Warsi’s thoughts and experience of faith, race and identity in particular will still find voice when she attends Cabinet in the future.”
Political commentators now await any adjustments to the Labour Shadow Cabinet team that may be made by opposition leader Ed Miliband.
“Will he take the opportunity to promote MPs with the best credentials on fundamental rights and freedoms to greater prominence?” questioned Chakrabarti.
“And with women and ethnic minorities as key floating voters at the next election, what will any of the main parties do to earn the trust of these long-neglected groups?”
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