Former Tory leader Lord Howard accuses judges of thinking they could overrule Parliament in a ‘powergrab’

JUDGES have been accused of mounting a “powergrab” and blindly thinking the same on Europe in a withering attack by Tory big beast Lord Howard.

The former Tory leader mounted a strong defence of a free Press saying it would be “monstrous” if newspapers were not permitted to criticise judges.

But retired judge Lord Hope claimed criticism of the judiciary was “bad for democracy” declaring judges were “wounded” by newspaper coverage of the recent Article 50 verdict.

Speaking at a Policy Exchange panel event at Westminster on Monday, Lord Howard said there was a growing “mindset” in the judiciary that courts could overrule Parliament.

He said although he did not agree with the Article 50 ruling he did not believe the High Court had “overreached” itself with its decision.

He told the audience: “What we have seen in recent years is what best if rather crudely described as a judicial grab for power.

“There is a great and important principle at stake in this discussion. It is precisely who is to have the last word.

“Is it to be our elected representatives in Parliament, accountable to voters, or is it to be the judges, accountable to no one?”

But Lord Hope – who ruled five years ago that prisoners should be able to vote in elections – slammed “vicious personal attacks and grossly distorted allegations” against judges.

The former Deputy President of the Supreme Court said: “If you diminish the judiciary in the eyes of the public then the executive may feel they can get away with things that may diminish the judiciary too."

“Things have been happening which have made the lives of those wishing to go into the judiciary much less certain and much less attractive," he added.

“Recently as we all know the criticism has been taken too far – far too far – I would say.

“Unlike most criticisms it is quite wounding for judges to be plastered all over the front of a newspaper like that but it’s bad for democracy.”