Mr Tony Blair, the Prime Minister, tried to abolish the Lord Chancellor overnight by ukase, and to reassign his powers. But Lord Irvine of Lairg disagreed and was sacked. Lord Falconer of Thoroton was made Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, but it was discovered that the Lords could not sit without a Lord Chancellor, so Lord Falconer had to take the Great Seal, dress in gown and wig and sit on the Woolsack. Lord Strathclyde, the leader of the Conservative peers, said, ‘If it is true that the Queen was not informed, then this is yet another example of discourtesy.’ The hoo-ha overshadowed even the mysterious resignation of Mr Alan Milburn as Secretary of State for Health on the morning of the reshuffle; it was in favour of ‘my life with my family’, he said. He was replaced by Mr John Reid, who was replaced as Leader of the House by Mr Peter Hain. Mr Hain also remained Welsh Secretary and Mr Alistair Darling became Scottish Secretary (while remaining Transport Secretary); at first, Scotland and Wales were said to come under Lord Falconer’s ‘umbrella’, but after a few days both were allowed to retain offices in Whitehall. Lady Blackstone was replaced as arts minister by Miss Estelle Morris. The Duke of Bedford died, aged 63, after eight months as duke. Footballers and entertainers were honoured on the Queen’s birthday. Sixteen bishops of the Church of England in an open letter found fault with the nomination of Dr Jeffrey John as Bishop of Reading since he has lived with a man for 20 years, although now sexually abstinent. Lord Woolf, the Lord Chief Justice, said the provisions of the Criminal Justice Bill, sponsored by Mr David Blunkett, the Home Secretary, were ‘bespattered with requirements as to what a judge “must” do’.
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in