The ship of state leaks from the top, reputedly. But this week’s liquid effusions do seem to be more cock-up than conspiracy.

Top of the list, of course, was the four-funnelled ocean-going leak at the ill-named Office for Budget Responsibility. But, down in the paddling pool, we also had the emergence of a memo apparently setting out what the Mail described as the biggest shake-up of the criminal justice system for 800 years. In other words, abolition of jury trials in all trials bar those for murder, rape, manslaughter or those deemed to be in ‘the public interest’.

Like most cynical old hacks, Obiter suspected pitch-rolling. This is the old dodge of floating a preposterous prototype in order to make the actual launch seem seaworthy. Not so, it seems. A chum in Whitehall assures Obiter that the leak of David Lammy’s response to Sir Brian Leveson’s review of criminal courts was genuinely the result of some twerp hitting the wrong ‘cc’ key on a circulated memo. Feathers were apparently flying in Petty France. 

Possibly, the truth will emerge in time – though, as the writers of Yes Minister observed decades ago, it is rare for a leak inquiry actually to inquire into anything. But in the meantime, here is a suggestion. When a chap simultaneously holds three jobs – lord chancellor, justice secretary and deputy prime minister – their email box must grow exponentially. Perhaps some rationalisation would be a good idea?

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