News / General

from the legislative and other functions shall involve the creation of the new institution of the Supreme Court.  which, however, shall be a Scottish court as much as English or UK or anything else.  While an unseemly row appears to have broken out, at least in e-mail, between their Lordships and the Lord Chancellor (or Minister of Justice or Secretary of State for the Department of Constitutional Affairs, depending upon what may be his current title) as to which building in London shall be occupied by the new court, there appears to have been no consideration given to a location other than central London.  It appears that their Lordships would prefer a purpose-built court while it has been reported that Lord Falconer has decided, by process of fait accompli, to adopt London’s Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court for the purpose.  Whereas Lord Falconer last week told MPs on the constitutional affairs select committee that the decision had proceeded upon detailed consultation with the law lords, it has been reported that the consultation extended only to the question as to whether the plans for the Guildhall were appropriate if that were where the court came to be located (Gazette 26^th April 2007).  Be all that as it may, there appears to have been no issue as to whether the court might be created somewhere else within its jurisdiction, such as the east side of Glasgow, for example, possibly as part of the local renewal project, where there is ample space for a custom built facility and generous subsidies available, or even for the Supreme Court to use a suitable Scottish location, for Scottish cases. Such a move might seem improbable but it could be sold in Whitehall as a bulwark against separatism, and it would certainly underline the separation of the judiciary from the legislature.  Perhaps representation to this effect should be submitted to the DCA.

A Member