Sir Brian’s PR offensive continues

Sir Brian Leveson, who has ascended from his inquiry podium to President of the Queen’s Bench Division and Chairman of the Sentencing Council, seems to be getting a taste for public appearances. Last week he frustratingly stonewalled two parliamentary committees who had the temerity to ask for some post-publication thoughts on his report into the press, saying ‘I am a serving judge. It would be absolutely inappropriate for me to come back into the question of my report or regulation of the Press.’ A parliamentarian, Philip Davies, called him a ‘berk’ in consequence. Mr S has heard a few of the good judge’s learned friends express a similar view over the years.

Sir Brian will surface again next month to give the Howard League for Penal Reform’s annual Parmoor Lecture. The title of which is ‘Achieving Consistency In Sentencing’. Presumably he will dodge questions, again, about his controversial report, which is a pity because Mr S wonders why Sir Brian thinks that it is fair and consistent to have a two-tier system to punish the free press.’