That is why the Government's success in maintaining this as a political rather than a legal set of rights is so welcome. Gentleman's points any better. The fact is that the Lord Chancellor's is a political office, and he, like earlier Lord Chancellors, has acted politically. That, I think, puts an end to any suggestion of a link between political activity and the appointment of judges, and no repetition of such a suggestion by the hon. I am pulling my guts out raising money, and I hope the Lord Chancellor will carry on raising money and save my breath.
Friend is quite right.
The Lord Chancellor is a member of the Cabinet and a member of the Labour party, and he is perfectly entitled to raise money for the party. Given that he was raising money from lawyers who have done extremely well under this Labour Government, I am delighted that those lawyers were encouraged to contribute to the re-election of a Labour Government. It is important for the human rights of individuals to be respected, and it is somewhat dismaying to hear them being decried by Conservative Members day after day. Decisions on how aspects of the Human Rights Act 1998 that are relevant to magistrates courts should be interpreted is a matter for individual magistrates courts committees, and the Government are confident that we have given those committees the resources that will enable them to discharge their duties.