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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Cabinet 'no place for attorney' | Cabinet 'no place for attorney' |
| (about 11 hours later) | |
| The attorney general should no longer attend Cabinet meetings, Constitutional Affairs Minister Harriet Harman says. | |
| She told the Financial Times the chief legal adviser's role needed to change as part of moves to restore public trust and confidence in the government. | She told the Financial Times the chief legal adviser's role needed to change as part of moves to restore public trust and confidence in the government. |
| She backed a return to the days when the attorney general kept his distance from Cabinet discussions. | |
| Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has previously dismissed claims that his job has become too political. | Attorney General Lord Goldsmith has previously dismissed claims that his job has become too political. |
| He has argued it is vital for "accountability" that he attends cabinet meetings and insisted he has always put the law before party loyalties. | He has argued it is vital for "accountability" that he attends cabinet meetings and insisted he has always put the law before party loyalties. |
| Lord Goldsmith has been involved in a number of controversies, including over the legal advice he offered regarding the Iraq invasion and, more recently, seeking injunctions against the media over reports about the cash-for-honours inquiry. | Lord Goldsmith has been involved in a number of controversies, including over the legal advice he offered regarding the Iraq invasion and, more recently, seeking injunctions against the media over reports about the cash-for-honours inquiry. |
| Ms Harman, who is one of the Labour Party's deputy leadership candidates, told Saturday's Financial Times she had "nothing but respect" for Lord Goldsmith. | |
| Harriet Harman is a former solicitor general | Harriet Harman is a former solicitor general |
| But the former solicitor general said: "The attorney has started attending Cabinet. I don't think it's a good idea for the attorney to be in Cabinet. | But the former solicitor general said: "The attorney has started attending Cabinet. I don't think it's a good idea for the attorney to be in Cabinet. |
| "If we're looking afresh at how we would do it, I wouldn't have the attorney in Cabinet." | "If we're looking afresh at how we would do it, I wouldn't have the attorney in Cabinet." |
| Last month, Ms Harman called on Lord Goldsmith to publish his legal advice to ministers, which would mark a break from a long-standing convention. | Last month, Ms Harman called on Lord Goldsmith to publish his legal advice to ministers, which would mark a break from a long-standing convention. |
| Meanwhile, MPs on the constitutional affairs committee are holding an inquiry into the post. | Meanwhile, MPs on the constitutional affairs committee are holding an inquiry into the post. |
| Liberal Democrat spokesman Simon Hughes said restoring confidence would require giving Parliament the right to approve law officer appointments - and to remove them from office. | |
| "The attorney general should not be in the Cabinet, but of course must attend whenever needed to give advice. | |
| "The important change is that future law officers should be nominated by government, but Parliament should confirm their appointment and be able to take their jobs away. | |
| "All justice matters should in future be led by a new minister for justice, as a member of the Cabinet, chosen from and accountable to the House of Commons." |