Lording itReports reach us that the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, was visited by the Belgian High Council of Justice last week - which would be the equivalent of the independent judicial appointments commission, if we had one.

After a lively exchange of views on the appointment of judges, Lord Irvine showed the visitors to the door, only to ask the head of delegation where their photographer was.

'What photographer?' the puzzled Belgian replied.

'Foreign delegations usually bring a photographer,' a disappointed Lord Irvine is said to have stated - possibly hoping to give his splendid robes of office a run out.