HL Deb 24 July 2001 vol 626 cc210-1WA
Lord Moynihan

asked Her Majesty's Government:

Given that the Lord Privy Seal (Lord Williams of Mostyn) gave the "independence of the judiciary" (HL Deb, 21 June, col. 113) as a reason for his rejection of the proposition "that democracy is all about the will of the people to be paramount", what is the justification for the head of the judiciary, the Lord Chancellor, to hold a place in the Cabinet. [HL396]

Lord William of Mostyn

The value of a Lord Chancellor is that he upholds judicial independence and can mediate between the executive and judiciary when need be. The office of the Lord Chancellor is the guarantor of judicial independence in our constitution. It holds the different parts together and withstands pressure from all sides.