More Good Sense From the Lord Chief

Lord Phillips, the Lord Chief Justice, has made a speech pointing out the inevitability of the renewed prison crisis, caused by the Blair Government's constant tabloid-pleasing tweaking of the criminal law that has greatly increased the length of sentences without proper plans being made as to where these prisoners are to go.

He told politicians: "Such a debate will be of no avail, indeed it will probably not be a possibility, unless those taking part are prepared to put to one side the opportunities that this subject always provides for scoring political points and to consider, objectively, what is in the best interests of our society."

Sorry, My lord - there's no chance of that.