The comments made by Andy McDonald, the Shadow Spokesperson for Employment Rights and Protections, on 14 March 2021.
Remembering Sarah. Sad to see the scenes at Clapham. The Met have got this so badly wrong. Sensitivity and compassion were needed tonight not heavy handed Policing. #ReclaimtheStreets
The comments made by Shaun Bailey, the Conservative’s Party candidate to be London Mayor, on 14 March 2021.
If Sadiq Khan wasn’t involved in tonight’s operational decision making, given the significance of tonight’s vigil, he should have made sure he was. If he was involved – he has serious questions to answer.
The comments made by Andrew Rosindell, the Conservative MP for Romford, on 14 March 2021.
The scenes from the vigil in Clapham make for incredibly disturbing viewing. Why are some protests OK, but a vigil in memory a murdered woman not? The actions of the Metropolitan Police are misjudged and disproportionate. Tonight is the last straw. I am calling on Cressida Dick to resign.
The comments made by Anas Sarwar, the Leader of the Scottish Labour Party, on 13 March 2021.
The scenes in London tonight are deeply distressing. No need for such a heavy-handed response, especially in the circumstances. Unacceptable. No woman should have to think twice before walking our streets, but the sad reality is too many do on a daily basis.
The comments made by Tom Tugendhat, the Conservative MP for Tonbridge and Malling, on 13 March 2021.
Today’s protests were legitimate expressions of outrage about violence against women by free citizens in a free country. The powers used against them echoed something different. We have been vaccinating to liberate and to use judgment at just such a moment. #WomensLivesMatter.
The comments made by Keir Starmer, the Leader of the Opposition, on 13 March 2021.
The scenes in Clapham this evening are deeply disturbing. Women came together to mourn Sarah Everard – they should have been able to do so peacefully.
I share their anger and upset at how this has been handled. This was not the way to police this protest.
The comments made by Toby Perkins, the Labour MP for Chesterfield, on 13 March 2021.
The scenes in London are appalling.
Police face very difficult job but they’ve got it hopelessly wrong.
This was a peaceful vigil and given the circumstances should have been policed far most sensitively.
This moment was about violence against women and that mustn’t be lost.
The comments made by Caroline Nokes, the Conservative MP for Romsey and Southampton North, on 13 March 2021.
Truly shocked at the scenes from Clapham Common – in this country we police by consent – not by trampling the tributes to a woman who was murdered and dragging other women to the ground. Badly misjudged by the Metropolitan Police.
The comments made by Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, on 13 March 2021.
The scenes from Clapham Common are unacceptable. The police have a responsibility to enforce Covid laws but from images I’ve seen it’s clear the response was at times neither appropriate nor proportionate. I’m contact with the Commissioner & urgently seeking an explanation.
The statement made by Robert Buckland, the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, in the House of Commons on 8 March 2021.
Following my recent announcement of the Government responses on reforms to the judicial pension scheme and on proposals to address the unlawful age discrimination identified in the McCloud litigation, I am today publishing the Government response to the Judicial Mandatory Retirement Age consultation.
Running from 16 July to 16 October 2020, the consultation sought views on proposals to increase the mandatory retirement age for judicial office holders to 72 or 75, alongside a proposal to allow public interest-based extension of magistrates’ appointments beyond their existing mandatory retirement age of 70, as is currently available to other parts of the judiciary. The consultation attracted considerable interest with over one thousand responses received from across of the magistracy, the judiciary, the legal profession, and other key stakeholder groups.
It has been over 25 years since the mandatory retirement age for most judges was set at 70. A mandatory retirement age remains an important requirement of judicial office which protects judicial independence, preserves public confidence in the judiciary, and promotes opportunities within the judiciary for those who wish to apply and to progress. I believe, however, along with the majority of respondents, that it is now time the MRA is amended to reflect improvements in life expectancy and the changing demands on our courts and tribunals.
Following careful consideration, I have therefore decided to raise the mandatory retirement age to 75 to enable us to retain for longer the valuable expertise of experienced judicial office holders and to attract a wider range of applicants. I believe the new retirement age could also have a positive impact on diversity by attracting and promoting opportunities for individuals considering a judicial career later in life, such as those who may have had non-linear careers or taken career breaks to balance professional and family responsibilities. I will legislate for this change as soon as parliamentary time allows.
Magistrates currently are unable to sit beyond the existing mandatory retirement age unlike many judges who can apply to have their appointments extended or to sit in retirement on an ad hoc basis. To further boost capacity in the magistrates courts, I will include a transitional provision as part of the legislative change to allow recently retired magistrates who are below the age of 75 when the new MRA comes into force to be able to apply to return to the bench, where there is a business need.
As Lord Chancellor, it is my duty to ensure the courts and tribunals have the required resources to continue dispensing justice. I am grateful for the commitment and resilience of judges, magistrates and coroners across the country who have worked tirelessly throughout this challenging period. I know the changes I am announcing today will not immediately alleviate pressure on our justice system. However, this once in a generation change to the mandatory retirement age, alongside the important reforms we are making to the judicial pension scheme, will help to support and promote judicial recruitment and retention, ensuring we are able to continue resourcing our world-class judiciary for the future.