Baroness Hale’s post-judicial jaunts

Baroness Hale has evidently been enjoying life since retiring as President of the Supreme Court in January last year. Hale, once dubbed the ‘Beyoncé of the legal profession,’ became the toast of Remainers everywhere after her withering slap-down to Boris Johnson’s prorogation bid in 2019. 

Now ensconced on the lecture circuit, the former academic has spent the past eighteen months being showered with those baubles beloved of the establishment: academic honours galore, an Oxford fellowship, a gushing interview in the New Statesman, the obligatory slot on Desert Island Discs and, of course, a book deal with a leading London publisher.

Hale’s memoirs – Spider Woman – is a nod to the brooch she wore when delivering the prorogation verdict and the subsequent explosion in tribute merchandise that followed. Glutinous praise met the publication of her book, which was prominently on display at this month’s Labour conference but – curiously enough – not the Tory one.

As part of her efforts to flog the work, Hale has been on something of a book tour this month, popping up at various events across the UK.