Lord Faulks, who headed 1 Chancery Lane chambers for nine years and is a well-regarded in City law, questioned whether Ms Truss will have ‘the clout’ to stand up to the PM when necessary on behalf of judges and ‘for the rule of law and for the judiciary.’

‘Swingeing cuts’

City litigator Ted Greeno of Quinn Emanuel Urquhart & Sullivan told Legal Business Lord Faulks’ resignation 'is making the point that the Ministry of Justice does not have a big enough voice in cabinet'. He added that the recent tenure of non-lawyer Lord Chancellors, of which Ms Truss is the third, has led to ‘an apparent de-prioritisation of the justice system and swingeing cuts. Lord Chancellors have either been unable or unwilling to win an argument against the Treasury.’

Dominic Grieve QC

Many in the profession were disappointed that Dominic Grieve QC missed out on the role, having fallen out of favour in Westminster after standing up for the European Convention on Human Rights when David Cameron floated the idea of a British Bill of Rights.

Source: Legal Business