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Cherie 'should quit as judge over memoirs'

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Published Date: 16 May 2008
By MARTYN McLAUGHLIN
CHERIE Blair yesterday faced down calls for her resignation as a judge, amid claims that her candid memoirs "demean the legal profession".
The wife of Tony Blair, the former prime minister, refuted suggestions her newly published autobiography showed a "complete lack of any kind of decency" and was inappropriate for someone of her legal standing.

Mrs Blair, known professionally as
Cherie Booth in her capacity as a QC and a recorder – a barrister appointed to serve as a part-time judge – has made several high-profile revelations in the book, Speaking For Myself, which has been serialised in a national newspaper and was released yesterday.

They include criticisms of Gordon Brown, the beleaguered Prime Minister, who she said was "rattling the keys" of Number 10 while her husband was still in office, and details of how her son, Leo, was only conceived because she was too embarrassed to take contraception to Balmoral.

Such candour, however, has not been well-received, with suggestions her only motivations for writing the volumes were revenge and greed, a charge made yesterday by Gerald Butler QC, senior justice at Southwark Crown Court for 13 years.

He said: "I don't think she should continue to sit as a recorder. If she wants to tread this path of making money by outrageous comments, that is up to her, but I don't think this is a job for a judge. It shows a complete lack of any kind of decency. It's the kind of conduct which demeans the legal profession. It is disgraceful."

An unrepentant Mrs Blair yesterday said she was "certainly would not" resign.

She added: "I intend to continue to practise. I'm sad (Mr Butler] feels like that but I also think so many comments about the book have been spoken only on the extracts. If anyone reads the book, I don't think they would draw that conclusion from it."

Lord Falconer, the former Lord Chancellor, said: "Cherie is highly respected in the legal profession and it is wrong to suggest writing her memoirs should make the slightest of difference to a job she does extremely well."

burning issue, Page 32





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  • Last Updated: 15 May 2008 9:30 PM
  • Source: The Scotsman
  • Location: Edinburgh
  • Related Topics: Cherie Blair
 
1

M.T.,

16/05/2008 00:05:36
"Speaking For Myself" No Comment!
2

Teofilio Cubillas,

16/05/2008 00:53:08
I would have thought that her theft of clothes in Australia or association with a convicted fraudster in the UK would have done for her career as a judge rather than her divulging the time and place she got jiggy with Tony after forgetting her contraceptive 'equipment'.
3

Scottish not British,

16/05/2008 02:02:26
I thought catholics weren't allowed to use contraception?
4

Fanling,

Switzerland 16/05/2008 04:11:22
#2 & #3

Good points both. But this woman is something else. She is not just an omnivorous champagne socialist, but a complete fake. She has used and abused her position in the judiciary, and continues to hoover up mega-money at every opportunity, on the back of her privileged position as Blair's bidey-in. She has no shame.

This is the same dog-woman who loudly validated the actions of suicide bombers not so many years back. She is a bloody horror story, and all too typical of the vile hangers-on of today's on-the-make politicians. And lawyers wonder why they get a bad press. Here's their 21st-century all-star, mile-wide-gob role model.
5

special rapporteur,

16/05/2008 04:29:40
and to top it all she's a scouser!
6

The Trossachs Hasher,

16/05/2008 05:23:42
Could not agree more with #4.

This biography says more about the Blair regime than anything else.

And the revelations about how her son was conceived is WAYYY too much information!
7

Fanling,

Switzerland 16/05/2008 05:49:21
#6
Your last sentence reflects the bit from her creepy shameless story that made me want to throw up technicolor yawns.
8

Anne,

Eaglesham 16/05/2008 06:42:13
Her ego allows her no insight.

I find it quite terrifying that a supposedly intelligent woman could not foresee that her "revelations" would lead to such disgust.

She has constantly failed to show any empathy - her crocodile tears over her son's departure for university, comparing it with other mothers' sons being posted to Iraq and Afghanistan by her husband were nauseating.

Aas for her constant pleas of poverty, words fail me!
9

Alberto.,

16/05/2008 08:11:27
"Speaking for Myself!"

Absolutely no need to!

By her activities and world-wide displays of, seemingly, her main driving force - 'Greed' and her 'Me, Me, Me' accompaniment, she clearly spoke about herself well before pen was even put to paper - for even more financial greed!

Many of her 'Profession' seem ashamed of her behaviour, not only because of her position in the Judiciary but probably, even moreso, as the wife of a Political leader in the World and seemingly, rightly so - but ‘she’ says she 'will not go!'

Amazing, as we see in many of the cases where 'top earners' seem to bring great shame to their 'calling, profession or whatever’, the question of staying 'connected' - or not, is apparently left to their own decision - regardless. What kind of Principle, if any, is that?

No doubt, as one would expect and as we sometimes see (but probably not often enough), 'suitable and necessary arrangements' will / can be made for a non-progressive career to be installed as appropriate. No doubt she would prefer to be 'sacked' (if possible!) as I imagine that would bring her reasonable financial compensatory rewards - for doing nothing more in her chosen, but probably now collapsing career - but it may well play ‘hell’ with her anticipated and seemingly longed for ‘Social’ life, which could, probably deservedly so, speedily crash almost instantly, and be disastrous for her! Such is life in the fast lane!

The sin of greed does have its rewards and pitfalls, it's simply a matter of hoping the 'Cookie' crumbles favourably!!
10

yockel,

16/05/2008 08:25:09
According to Prescot Teflon Tony B'liar wants to be president of Europe. With any luck Cherie has done us a service and scuppered those ambitions otherwise leaving the EU becomes essential.
11

scottish person,

paisley 16/05/2008 09:03:01
#4 I couldnt put it better. You have summed her up perfectly
12

Bobbiedazzler,

Inverness 16/05/2008 09:15:40
This woman brings shame on Great Britain and on the Catholic Church. Will she ever learn to keep her "over-generous-sized-mouth" firmly shut. We DON'T WANT to know the gorey details of the conception of anybody's children, let alone the kids of self-serving,evil, sinful, liars and despots who have destroyed the hopes and dreams of ordinary working people; who moan about their own "debts" when they have numerous properties whilst thousands of families are homeless or living in poor conditions whilst they serve their country and put their lives on the line without adequate equipment.
13

Draco Was a Wimp,

Edinburgh 16/05/2008 09:24:06
Heaven forfend that a judge should be candid! I'd have thought that the levels of greed consistently displayed by Mrs. Bliar , in which she's no different to any of that parasitic cabal of crooks, makes her more than qualified to go all the way to the top of her 'profession'.
14

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 16/05/2008 09:25:39
Cherie Blair has never had any sense of occasion. She has never known when to keep her trap shut and she lives in her own little dreamland world which centres around her and her stupid husband.

I have mixed feelings about this---any mud that can be slung at the labour party and Gordon Brown is very much welcome at this point in time because it will help weaken them further. However, the CORRECT time to release memoirs is after those concerned have already left power, not whilst they are still serving.

In true Cherie Blair style, she is now attempting to blame the publishers because "she had no control". Does she really think we are all totally stupid? She is supposed to be a top lawyer, she could easily have controlled the release date---or she could simply not have let the publishers have the material until a later date.

The fact is, they need the money to fund their recent purchase of a £4.5 million house. Why can the sorry pair of them not just be honest?
15

Alternative (High Octane) Fuel Head,

Edinburgh 16/05/2008 09:31:03
I wonder if they will delete all the comments and close commenting on this story, like they did with the earlier one on Cherie Blair?

I wonder how that happened???

Cherie, If you can't take it love, stop acting like an insensitive fool and go and get some lessons in deportment and diplomacy whilst you are about it.
16

Dougie, Edinburgh,

16/05/2008 09:31:50
Can't be much fun being the most hated woman in the country!
17

Montford's Jaicket,

Hanging around 16/05/2008 09:39:20
Sad to say, articles like this may actually encourage certain people to go out and buy this book.

Probably the most apposite comment would be...

"Cherie who?" - isn't she the Westminster equivalent of a footballing WAG - notable only for being in the vicinity of someone "famous"?
18

Tommy Trout,

Alicante, Spain 16/05/2008 09:41:38
#15
"Why can't the sorry pair of them not just be honest".

LAWYERS...HONEST? Sorry, does not equate.
19

Toast,

16/05/2008 10:05:25
Basically the perfect partner for a smug ,egomanical war criminal.
20

Phil1,

Edinburgh 16/05/2008 10:45:33
I detect a little bit of British envy in the comments above for those richer and perhaps more infamous than the rest of us. She has done very well for herself 4 houses, a book deal, speaking tours round the world and a day job as a judge.

If she was American we'd all be congratulating her not complaining about her husband - she has done well for herself more than the WAGs that just get laid by thick footballers.

So give her a break and I'll bet none of you have even read her book!
21

famie,

australia 16/05/2008 10:50:06
Politics is celebrity for uglys.
22

joppa jock,

Huntingdon 16/05/2008 13:12:27
#21 It's a bit difficult to give a break to such a self-seeker whose husband was the leader of the party raised to fight the corner of the working classes against the landed gentry. She and her equally obnoxious husband have crossed over and joined the ranks of those they pretend to despise. Cherie Blair may well be a clever lady but she comes across as no more than an educated idiot, and a particularly crass one at that. The idea of her sitting in judgement upon another human being is beyond belief.
23

joppa jock,

Huntingdon 16/05/2008 13:12:28
#21 It's a bit difficult to give a break to such a self-seeker whose husband was the leader of the party raised to fight the corner of the working classes against the landed gentry. She and her equally obnoxious husband have crossed over and joined the ranks of those they pretend to despise. Cherie Blair may well be a clever lady but she comes across as no more than an educated idiot, and a particularly crass one at that. The idea of her sitting in judgement upon another human being is beyond belief.
24

,

16/05/2008 13:18:29
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
25

Alberto.,

16/05/2008 14:15:12
Presumably the whole of 'Scouseland' will now be hiding in shame!!!!!
26

Alberto.,

16/05/2008 14:16:04
Presumably the whole of 'Scouseland' will now be hiding in shame!!!!!
27

Scottish not British,

16/05/2008 15:17:07
Her vanity is excrutiating to behold, and the money and fame come from her marriage to the former PM not her own talents or brains and her infamy is due to her lack of class, lack of integrity and blatant narcissism. She is no better than a WAG or a z lister like Jade Goody.
28

Iain's,

16/05/2008 17:10:00
I believe that she should not have worked as a human rights lawyer when her husband was P.M.

Now that he is no longer a politician, she has lost her contact with Cabinet and thus is out of touch with the government.

It is thus OK for her to work as a judge as English judges are expected to be out of touch with everything.

Remember the judge who asked "Who are the Beatles?"

29

Ecce,

Edinburgh 16/05/2008 17:33:53
"Too embarrassed" to take contraception to Balmoral, but obviously not too embarrassed to indulge in a bit of nooky with the Queen in the same building!!
30

Fanling,

Switzerland 16/05/2008 22:06:16
We keep arguing and disagreeing about what her self-described "contraceptive equipment" actually is (presumably approved by her priest, nudge, nudge!). Sounds like something with nails, sticking plaster and glue available from a DIY store near you.
31

Selden,

London 23/05/2008 16:08:40
Cherie Booth has commented that her autobiography was written 'for women' and from that perspective it may well be of interest to a wide readership.

She has, however, also declined to resign as a part-time Recorder. Moreover, the former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, has supported that decision. As a woman and a doctoral researcher in law (and leaving aside personal distaste) I am of the view that her lack of discretion and foresight brings her suitability for judicial office into serious question.

I would suggest firstly that the appointment of Ms Booth to a judicial post, as the wife of a serving Prime Minister, may itself have been unwise. In the British constitution there is a doctrine of the separation of powers between the legislature and executive, on one hand; and the judiciary on the other. It is meant to insulate and protect the judiciary from direct involvement with the processes of government and legislation. It is also intended to protect the public and to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice; which, moreover, must not only be done but be seen to be done.

Of course, the role of a judge is a delicate one, requiring that s/he be in touch with social concerns whilst remaining apart from the political process. Ms Booth's comments on the relationship between Mr Blair and Mr Brown could not, I think, be said to contravene directly the separation of powers. However, given their publication at a politically sensitive time for the present administration: and the media coverage which she must have known would result; she must surely have reflected that they might adversely affect the outcome of elections that were then imminent.

As a judge Ms Booth is not merely a private person who might exercise her freedom of expression without thought for public consequences, over and above the legal obligations of any citizen. She will know that the Human Rights Act 1998, Art. 10(2)provides that freedom of expression carries with it 'dutie
32

Selden,

London 23/05/2008 16:12:24
Cherie Booth has commented that her autobiography was written 'for women' and from that perspective it may well be of interest to a wide readership. She has also declined to resign as a part-time Recorder. Moreover, the former Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, has supported that decision. As a woman and a doctoral researcher in law (and leaving aside personal distaste) I am of the view that her lack of discretion and foresight brings her suitability for judicial office into serious question. I would suggest firstly that the appointment of Ms Booth to a judicial post, as the wife of a serving Prime Minister, may itself have been unwise. In the British constitution there is a doctrine of the separation of powers between the legislature and executive, on one hand; and the judiciary on the other. It is meant to insulate and protect the judiciary from direct involvement with the processes of government and legislation. It is also intended to protect the public and to ensure the fair and impartial administration of justice; which, moreover, must not only be done but be seen to be done. Of course, the role of a judge is a delicate one, requiring that s/he be in touch with social concerns whilst remaining apart from the political process. Ms Booth's comments on the relationship between Mr Blair and Mr Brown could not, I think, be said to contravene directly the separation of powers. However, given their publication at a politically sensitive time for the present administration: and the media coverage which she must have known would result; she must surely have reflected that they might adversely affect the outcome of elections that were then imminent. As a judge Ms Booth is not merely a private person who might exercise her freedom of expression without thought for public consequences, over and above the legal obligations of any citizen. She will know that the Human Rights Act 1998, Art. 10(2)provides that freedom of expression carries with it 'duties and responsibilities';

 

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