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Wednesday, February 17, 1999 Published at 06:18 GMT
UK Politics
Irvine 'should resign as head of judiciary'
Lord Irvine has sat twice as a judge since taking office
A leading human rights lawyer is urging the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, to stand down as head of the English judiciary.
Liberal Democrat peer Lord Lester of Herne Hill is also arguing that serving law lords should no longer take part in parliamentary debates.
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| Constitutional Affairs correspondent Joshua Rozenberg outlines the debate |
Unlikely to agree
In the House of Lords on Wednesday, Lord Lester will argue that the Lord Chancellor should no longer sit as a judge. Lord Lester thinks it may turn out to be against the new Human Rights Act for him to do so.
Lord Irvine is unlikely to agree - successive Lord Chancellors have said that having a foot in both camps helps them liaise between judges and politicians.
Lord Lester will also propose that the law lords should no longer take part in House of Lords debates. The government says that the law lords do not become involved in politically controversial issues, but Lord Lester believes this no longer holds true.
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