Jenrick Criticises ‘Activist Judges’ in Immigration Policy Debate
Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick characterised judges who stop the deportation of illegal migrants as biased “referees” aiding the opposition during a speech at the Conservative Party conference in Manchester yesterday, reports BritPanorama.
Jenrick pledged that a future Conservative government would abolish immigration tribunals, eliminate the quango responsible for judicial appointments, and prohibit political activists from serving as judges. He claimed to have identified numerous judges affiliated with pro-immigration charities who publicly share their personal views on social media, undermining public confidence in judicial impartiality.
Holding a judge’s wig in his hand, Jenrick stated, “It’s like finding out halfway through a football match that the referee is a season ticket holder for the other side.” He expressed concerns about the perception of judges’ independence. “The public rightly ask, how independent are they?” he added.
According to Jenrick, this situation undermines the legacy of past jurists and diminishes trust in the law among the British populace. He vowed to restore ministerial control over judicial appointments, declaring a desire to reverse what he described as the “constitutional vandalism” initiated by former Prime Minister Tony Blair and his government.
“The Lord Chancellor will once again appoint the judges. No more quangos,” Jenrick asserted. “They will be instructed to never permit activists of any political hue to don the wig, ever again.”
Justice Secretary David Lammy responded forcefully, accusing Jenrick of “trampling on the British values he claims to defend.” He emphasised that judicial independence from political influence is foundational to British democracy, warning that allowing politicians to influence judicial appointments signals a dangerous trend towards democratic backsliding.
Lammy stated, “When politicians start deciding which judges can stay or go, that is democratic backsliding and Robert Jenrick knows it.” His remarks underscore the ongoing debate on the balance of power between the judiciary and government in the UK, particularly in the contentious area of immigration policy.
In related news, Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philip announced new policies aimed at tackling crime, including a pledge to increase police numbers by 10,000 and eliminate what he termed “woke nonsense” from policing practices by scrapping a controversial anti-racism initiative proposed by the College of Policing.
Philip reinforced the principle of equal treatment under law, reiterating, “People should stand equal before the law. It is that simple.”
