Lawyers welcomed the Lord Chancellor's announcement last week that the government would enshrine the independence of the judiciary in statute.

In a speech on the theme of justice, rights and democracy, Lord Falconer said: 'For the first time ever in Britain, the independence of the judiciary will be provided for explicitly by law.

The Constitutional Reform Bill we announced in the Queen's speech will include the independence of the judiciary on the face of the Bill.'

He later confirmed that the guarantee would cover magistrates as well.

The Lord Chancellor said judicial independence is 'too important to this country and to this government to be any longer left unspecified, uncodified, unwritten'.

Andrew Lidbetter, a specialist in administrative law and partner with City firm Herbert Smith, said: 'This is a piece of legislation where any interference by government or any other public authority with the independence of the judiciary could now clearly be the subject of judicial review proceedings.'

The Law Society's chief executive, Janet Paraskeva - also speaking at the seminar, jointly sponsored by the Law Society and think-tank the Institute for Public Policy Research - welcomed the announcement.

She also called on Lord Falconer to stand firm on abolishing QCs.

Jeremy Fleming