Blair's right to act as Prime Minister when retiring
(3)
Introductory Note by FB
The following letter was published in answer to one by
Neville Peel published in The Times on 9 June 2007 beginning ‘On what possible
authority does Francis Bennion (letter, June 8) base his contention that Mr Blair’s
continuing in office is unconstitutional?’.
The Times (Letters) 12 Jun 2007
Doc. No. 2007.016 T112L
Lame-duck Blair (3)
Sir, Neville Peel is mistaken in saying the Prime Minister’s
position is no business of the courts. As Lord Denning said, “Be you ever so high,
the law is above you”.
Until Mr Blair ignorantly procured the removal of the vital
traditional powers of the Lord Chancellor, he would have had in his Cabinet a leader
of the law who would have
kept him in order constitutionally. Can anyone imagine that the late Lord Hailsham
of St Marylebone, when he held that office, would have sat idly by in Cabinet while a
Prime
Minister thus played ducks and drakes with our constitution?
