I spent 20 years being not very eminent but can't think of any occasion on which the eminence of opposing counsel (or solicitors) played a role in bringing the parties to a settlement. I remember quaking in my own boots once or twice, but it would have been quite improper to factor that in.

Leaving aside the attempt to make it a pejorative term, how can anyone entertain the suggestion of DEI hire in respect of someone who (whether you or I agree with him) has consistently been the democratic choice of a constituency (more than once, of a majority of those who cast a vote).

One year in practice before everything I had studied was swept away by the CPR. Not soon enough to avoid having the White Book literally thrown at me by the QB Practice Master (on my first time solo in court) for not having brought the stamped originating summons for the order to be endorsed on it.

It does!

Although we can do something to mitigate the impact of a collision, it still feels like preparing a door that shuts automatically after the horse has bolted.

My guess would be one or more of (a) changing their mind; (b) chickening out; (c) acting inconsistently; or (d) not following the(ir own) rules.

Prejudice interacts with a pile of societal anxieties and hang-ups about toilets and changing rooms that often begin in school.

It's not sufficiently understood by many people how often women are challenged aggressively (or just subject to unpleasant remarks) in toilets, changing rooms. Happening before UKSC ruling and sadly no surprise if it got worse.

The hours I spent... the delight of the 6502 Second Processor edition...

Donated.

Surely we need to tackle our excessive energy costs if we are going to save this and other heavy industries?

I'm grateful for the nostalgia, but not for the earworm theme at this late hour.

Hand scanners! Did anyone have one wide enough to do a useful paper size? Or one that didn't always veer off subtly to one side?

Re national church, there isn't a single hierarchy, just a collection of Dioceses. Very limited central power of command. Parishes are all independent charities, which their Dioceses cannot command, and have freestanding safeguarding obligations like other charities. Archaic. Hard to change.

The Diocesan safeguarding adviser (who I trust to help me make the right judgment call) is only an adviser, and cannot prevent me from making a referral into the secular system.

Without wishing to minimise the appalling failings of the Church of England, things feel robust at the bottom of the structure in a way that they didn't in the past. No-one, and no rule, stops me from going directly to the LA, or the police, if I believe someone has been or is at risk of harm.

Thank you, Ben. Sad to see Historic Houses members being co-opted into a political argument that surely doesn't help them. I shall continue to enjoy NT and HH properties without considering them "competition" for one another!

Historic Houses is a non-profit association of heritage attractions that are still in family or other private ownership. It doesn't/can't impose 'wokeness', 'anti-wokeness' or anything else on its member properties. It would be nice to see HH correct the record.