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You say:

"Once dishonest always dishonest".

Not according to the SDT. See for instance the Imran case (2014):

http://www.solicitorstribunal.org.uk/Content/documents/11246.2014.Imran.pdf

Quite astonishing that a solicitor convicted of perjury can remain on the Roll and only be suspended for two years - and this was upheld on appeal too. I say 'astonishing' not necessarily because I disagree with the decision (these cases always turn on the particular facts) but because the SDT have taken a very hard line on dishonesty in recent years and lesser offences than this have resulted in a striking-off.

Do you remember the lady solicitor who was struck-off for supposedly not disclosing a shoplifting conviction to the SRA? This was despite the fact that they only discovered the conviction because she disclosed it at a later point.

Anyway, the point is that people can go off the rails but don't necessarily have to be excluded forever. However I do agree with you that striking-off with the possibility of restoration later would be the best approach.

Yes, thanks for the discussion. We'll leave it there.