Since the umbilical cord was partially severed between the Bar Council’s representative and regulatory functions, the regulator has picked boardocrat Ruth Evans, followed by former academic Lady Deech (called to the bar, but never practised) to lead it.

Now, in a commendable gesture to diversity, it has opted for a chap.

But Sir Andrew Burns is no token appointee. The Cambridge-educated former diplomat’s impeccable CV lists spells as high commissioner to Canada, consul-general in Hong Kong and ambassador to Israel.

He has also been an international governor of the BBC and a director of JP Morgan Chinese Investment Trust. His gongs include a CMG and KCMG, honours known in the foreign office as ‘call me god’ and ‘kindly call me god’.  

As Sir Andrew seeks to carry out his mission to create a ‘more modern and efficient’ regulator, he could always turn to guidance from veteran leftie barrister Michael Mansfield, who Obiter calculates was two years his senior at north London’s exceedingly posh Highgate School.

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