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The numbers tell us a lot.

The (rightly) angry barristers number around 3000. Whatever the overall size of the criminal bar, the rest are presumably not (so) angry so as to withdraw their services. Just over half of the angry barristers have now joined their not so angry colleagues.

That such a tiny number got anywhere surprises me, given little or no national public support and a government and its department of justice deaf and blind to the effect of over a decade of attritional attacks on the legal sector and thereby the rule of law.

The reasons for settling will be many, but my guess is paying the rent and a forthcoming tax bill for last year will have concentrated minds rather than any blandishments of the senior practitioners.