It hardly warranted the epithet ‘reshuffle’, such is Theresa May’s weakness at this time. The four top secretaries of state remained in position – but everybody knew the prime minister wouldn’t have been able to move them even if she’d wanted to.

The departure of Liz Truss from Lord Chancellor to Chief Secretary to the Treasury was a particularly noteworthy move. Caroline Park commented: “Truss’ demotion will be a relief to many in the legal profession whose confidence and respect she singularly failed to secure.”

Over the weekend, lawyers will have been scanning new incumbent David Lidington’s CV for evidence of experience in the profession, but to no avail. Lidington’s background is instead at BP and Rio Tinto Group.

Caroline said, “Lidington is a more experienced pair of hands but the big test will be whether he, unlike his predecessor, is prepared to step up as a defender of the judiciary.”

Read the full article in Spear’s here