By Ben Kerrigan-
Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox has been kicked out of government today after being told by the prime minister to step down as attorney general .He was seen as being condescending in cabinet and was not considered a “team player”.
The UK government’s former most senior law officer only yesterday threw his weight behind calls to curb judges’ powers to overturn ministerial decisions, saying there is a “widespread feeling” courts are taking decisions that “properly ought” to be parliament’s.
Geoffrey Cox, the former attorney-general, made the remarks following reports that ministers were furious when judges this week blocked the deportation of a number of Jamaican-born offenders to their home country because they had received inadequate legal advice. This was the same man who referred to Parliament as being a ”dead parliament” when addressing the impasse surrounding Brexit.
He also suggested that a system of parliamentary hearings for potential nominees to Canada’s highest court could be a model for introducing greater accountability for appointees to the UK Supreme Court. Mr.Cox also suggested that a system of parliamentary hearings for potential nominees to Canada’s highest court could be a model for introducing greater accountability for appointees to the UK Supreme Court.
Cox who was made Whitehall’s most senior law chief in July 2018, posted his resignation letter on Twitter. He said: ‘I am writing to resign that office, as you requested, as a result of the reshuffle and associated changes you wish to make.’
Describing Brexit as the ‘great political mission of our time’, Cox said: ‘Throughout that process, I have sought, as my role requires, to give candid and independent legal advice both to you and to your predecessor on how that desirable outcome might best be achieved lawfully and effectively.’
As attorney general, Cox was ‘honoured to lead and work with distinguished and impressive lawyers and civil servants’ in the Attorney General’s Office and Government Legal Department.
He said: ‘Good work has been done to lay the foundations for appropriate review of the workings of the criminal justice system, to take a firm grip of the problem of disclosure, to equip the CPS with the means to perform its essential functions and, in introducing new governance frameworks, to enable more effective superintendence of both the CPS and SFO.
I have also been able to propose workable solutions to the legitimate demands of our veterans for protection from repeated investigation and prosecution. I wish the government and my successor well in taking that forward.’
When grilled by MPs on the legal advice given to the Queen to prorogue parliament, Cox suggested parliamentary scrutiny of judicial appointments may be needed.