Jack Straw in swearing blooper

Jack Straw the new Minister of Justice and Lord Chancellor last week swore his oath of office. And this is it: "I will respect the rule of law, defend the independence of the judiciary and discharge my duty to ensure the provision of resources for the efficient and effective support of the courts for which I am responsible". It might be remembered that John Reid failed in this respect in relation to prisons simply because Gordon Brown who was the then Chancellor refused to give him anymore money to build the extra prisons that he wanted. Marcel Berlins has pointed out that such an oath is meaningless and unenforceable because if Alistair Darling the new Chancellor refuses to open his purse strings Jack Straw can do bugger all about it. Marcel Berlins points out that no judge would be able to hear a case brought to court to challenge the lack of funds because as members of the Judiciary the judges have an interest in the case. I think that Jack Straw is in a better position than John Reid because the former has a better relationship with Gordon Brown than John Reid has. Therefore, I don't expect we will see Jack Straw sat outside Number 11 Downing Street with a begging bowl in his hands...