Burgon: Tories must condemn “hysterical headlines” about High Court judgement

Richard Burgon

Liz Truss must “not stay silent” after the recent attacks on British judges in newspapers, Labour has demanded.

Richard Burgon, Labour’s shadow justice secretary, urged Liz Truss, justice secretary and Lord Chancellor, to “speak out urgently against the hysterical headlines of some papers and these attacks on British justice.”

Burgon’s call for an intervention on newspaper reporting comes after this morning’s front pages, with The Sun, Telegraph, Mail and Express all launching attacks on yesterday’s court ruling that article 50 can only be triggered by a vote of Parliament.

newspaper-front-pages

He said: “respecting the EU Referendum result is the right and democratic thing to do. Strong views were expressed by both sides.”

“Judges in the High Court are there to interpret the law regardless of their personal views and that it what they have done.”

“There is a constitutional process which must be followed. Some of the headlines in today’s newspapers personally attacking the judges who heard this case are unacceptable.”

“It is the Lord Chancellor’s job to uphold the independence of British judges.”

Numerous other Labour MPs have criticised the hysteria.

Wes Streeting, MP for Ilford North, tweeted:

While Stella Creasy, MP for Walthamstow, posted on Instagram:

More from LabourList

DONATE HERE

Do you value LabourList’s coverage? We need your support.

Our independent journalists have been on the ground during this local and by-election campaign, which marks the first key electoral test of Keir Starmer’s government. 

We’ve been out and about with Labour activists and candidates across the country from Bristol to Hull, and will soon be heading to Cambridgeshire and Lancashire – as well as Runcorn and Helsby. We’ve also polled readers for their views on the campaign.

LabourList relies on donations from readers like you to continue its fair, fast, reliable and well-informed news and analysis. We don’t have party funding or billionaire owners. 

If you value what we do, set up a regular donation today.

DONATE HERE