What makes a good speech, you ask? Politicians, activists, royals and wedding functionaries have been trying to work it out for centuries. But the lord chief justice Lord Burnett of Maldon, managed to tick most of the boxes in his speech welcoming Alex Chalk as lord chancellor.

In fairness to other orators, Burnett has had plenty of practice in the job. And no doubt thoughts of his upcoming retirement emboldened him in certain areas. But it seems his ingredients for a great speech are: 

1. Name check a Hollywood legend: 

‘My Lord Chancellor, you are my seventh in just under six years, albeit one twice. You, I hope are my last otherwise I would find myself, somewhat surprisingly, with something in common with Elizabeth Taylor. She has eight husbands – one twice.’ 

2. A compliment to help take the edge off criticism: 

‘The functions of lord chancellor in a modern age might be thought enough to keep a minister fully occupied. The original concept of a Department for Constitutional Affairs did just that. But then along came prisons, bringing with it an obvious potential conflict of interest and problems themselves enough to consume the energies of a superhuman. That marriage may not have been made in heaven. When political breathing space allows, the time may well have come for the role of lord chancellor to be looked at again. 

‘The question is whether the current arrangements appropriately serve the administration of justice which is one of the building blocks of society. It always was a destination job with incumbents often serving for a whole parliament or more; but that is no longer the case.

3. A more pointed remark where listeners can make their own conclusions:

‘The role has changed over the centuries. Unlike other cabinet ministers you have among your predecessors saints and countless archbishops and bishops but, perhaps more in the political mainstream, also one or two noted sinners.’

At Obiter Towers, we can only add our humble congratulations to the new lord chancellor - and wish him luck repairing the justice system he has inherited. We hope he’ll be as successful as the lord chief justice’s speech.

 

Pictured above: Lord chief justice and master of the rolls await the arrival of Alex Chalk MP for his swearing in as lord chancellor

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