Steven Barrett

Burnham’s misjudged attack on the judiciary

(Photo by MARTIN RICKETT/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

The Mayor of Greater Manchester, Andrew Burnham, has publicly criticised a judge, calling his decision to end a criminal trial on legal grounds a ‘disgrace’. The judge is Mr Justice William Davis, a highly respected ‘red judge’ — that is the top level of judge we have who do trials. They are the best we have. There are 105 in our country.

This is an attack on the judiciary and the independence of judges. But what you think of people who do such things reveals much about your politics.

The charitable argument is that Mr Burnham is confused.

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