18. Dominic Grieve - Bench Talk with Jo Hilditch

POPULISM AND THE RULE OF LAW (TO BE FEARED OR APPLAUDED)

This podcast is not so much a chat, but a lecture – so called the “Shrieval Lecture” – an annual event that is hosted by the High Sheriff usually with the help of a legal professional. This time HH Daniel Pearce-Higgins, Honorary Recorder of Hereford and ex-circuit judge co-hosted Dominic Grieve QC. Dominic is ex Attorney General, MP and is a British barrister and former politician who served as Shadow Home Secretary from 2008 to 2009 and Attorney General for England and Wales from 2010 to 2014. He served as the MP for Beaconsfield from 1997 to 2019 and was the Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee from 2015 to 2019.

A liberal conservative, Grieve was a central figure on Brexit and frequently used his experience as a lawyer to propose amendments on the issue, with his interventions often being at odds with government policy. A prominent Remain supporter on Brexit, Grieve called for a second referendum on EU membership, and before being expelled had said that he and other Conservative rebels would support a vote of no confidence to bring down a Conservative government, if that were the only way to block the “catastrophic” damage from a bad Brexit. In spring 2019, Grieve was threatened with deselection by his local party after losing a confidence vote by members. In October 2019, following removal of the whip, Grieve announced that he would stand as an independent candidate in his constituency’s seat at the next general election. It was announced that the Liberal Democrats would stand aside to help him, but to no avail, as he lost his seat.

Today his talk is entitled Populism and the Rule of Law (to be feared or applauded) and is rather legal than political and highlights historical examples around populism, as well as reaching conclusions about how populism and the law are inextricably linked and indeed need to work together for successful government.

Our “bench” is the Town Hall in Hereford and with an audience of Herefordians and pupils from the sixth form college and Hereford Cathedral School whose attendance was sponsored by Gabbs solicitors. Tanners Wine Hereford generously gave the wine! The Q and A is not recorded here, but the lecture provided for some interesting and lively discussion.

References:

Hereford Sixth Form College Welcome to Hereford Sixth form college

Hereford Cathedral School A personal welcome from the Headmaster | Hereford Cathedral School (herefordcs.com)

Gabbs Solicitors Gabbs Solicitors Hereford

Tanners Wines Hereford Hereford | Tanners Wines (tanners-wines.co.uk)