§ 42. Mr. Gregor Mackenzieasked the Secretary of State for Scotland if he will seek powers to ensure that the tradition that Her Majesty's judges should not take an active part in party political activities is maintained.
§ Mr. RossNo, Sir. It is a well established convention of the constitution that judges should not be involved in the formulation of policy for political parties and should avoid all participation in the political activities of such parties. I can find no reason for seeking to have this enshrined in a statute.
§ Mr. Gregor MackenzieI appreciate my right hon. Friend's reply, but would he say to the Scottish Bench that, in their own interests, they might observe this tradition, and that they ought to maintain the habit of other senior servants of the Crown and take no part in party political activities, since this does not seem to be clear to a number of them?
§ Mr. RossI do not think this requires to be made clear to the Scottish Bench; I am perfectly sure that they understand it fully.