Press round-up

Tory leader William Hague was accused of playing macho party politics, knee-jerk headline-seeking and bandwagon populism as he pledged to end the double jeopardy rule if elected.

The move continues Mr Hague's tough stance on crime and asylum seekers, and hinges on the MacPherson report recommendations following the murder Stephen Lawrence.Mr Hague's proposed limited relaxation of the rule prohibiting re-trial on acquittal, to allow a second trial for serious crimes where important new evidence is uncovered, covered acres of newspaper space.

The Daily Mail (15 May) said Mr Hague has already won wide public support for his tough line on law and order and asylum, while The Express said the Tory leader 'is convinced law and order is a vote winner'.The Guardian pointed out an anti-government shift in opinion polls this month.

The Sunday Telegraph (14 May) added that Mr Hague plans to tell the Police Federation annual conference today that poverty and unemployment are no excuse for crime, while Home Secretary Jack Straw will compete for police attention by promising to cut red tape and unnecessary court appearances.The Independent (12 May) reported on a trip by Lord Justice Auld, who is heading the review of the criminal justice system, to the US to observe how a single-tier criminal justice system works, under the headline: 'Magistrates' and crown courts may be swept away.' But the Daily Mail was more certain the day before: 'Irvine will abolish magistrates courts,' shouted the headline.

The Daily Mail said the reforms now look likely to go further than anticipated, and may include merger of the system within a European network, and allowing 'plea-bargaining'.The Independent found space for Law Society politics and specifically the appointment of a chief executive under the headline: 'Is this the worst job in the country?' It speculated that Falklands veteran Major-General Michael Scott, the Bar complaints commissioner, is the front-runner for the newly created position.

Other possible contenders were said to be leading legal aid solicitor and one-time Law Society Deputy Vice-President Henry Hodge, and current Society Council member and Clifford Chance partner George Staple, who had five years as director of the Serious Fraud Office.Lloyd's List supplement Insurance Day (10 May) warned that underwriters are likely to face 'unwelcome surprises' once the market gets its share of solicitors' indemnity work in September, owing to the unpredictable nature of legal work: 'The sheer diversity of risks which the legal profession undertakes must not be underestimated.' It reminds underwriters jostling to cash in on the fall-out from the Solicitors Indemnity Fund's demise, that they are not just indemnifying the 'usual suspects' such as conveyancers, but also the 'mad boffin; the Walter Mitty aspirant; the crag-hopping dilettante; and the over-worked footsoldier with no time to think and nowhere to turn'.

Anne Mizzi