The Ministry of Justice revealed last week that it can’t afford an above-inflation pay rise, but judges can look forward to a new perk: interest-free season ticket loans. The ministry told the Senior Salaries Review Body that the loans will only be available to salaried office-holders, who, the ministry pointed out, already have access to a cycle-to-work scheme.

Judge bike

Obiter remembers when the topic of judges on public transport was a cartoonist’s staple: ‘I say, conductor – do you stop at the Ritz? Not on my wages, guv.’ No longer, alas. Chauffeur-driven limos for travel between lodgings and courts and for other official journeys went out the window at the turn of the century. Lodgings didn’t last much longer. Now, members of our learned bench can only claim expenses (for first-class travel, mind you) while on judicial business.  

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