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Strangled at birth

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21 October 2010 / John Cooper KC
Issue: 7438 / Categories: Opinion , Constitutional law
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As the coalition government began to burn the quangos last week, among the ashes can be found the office of chief coroner.

As the coalition government began to burn the quangos last week, among the ashes can be found the office of chief coroner.

Never can a judicial office have been so short lived. Strangled at birth would be exaggerating its longevity as the post had only just been filled.
In fact, on Tuesday of this week, the MoJ sent an apology to all those who had spent hours assisting them with their consultation paper. It stated that the minister recognised: “The considerable effort that had been undertaken by all who work within the current system to provide good public service...However, the current financial situation means that these reforms must be brought forward without the national leadership framework and new appeal system, headed by a chief coroner.”

The MoJ, in their letter of apology to consultees, added that they were in discussions with the judiciary about whether it would be appropriate to transfer responsibilty

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