In brief: Austin Mitchell to call for Ministry of Justice

Labour MP Austin Mitchell is to present a Ten Minute Rule Bill in the House of Commons calling for the creation of a Ministry of Justice, a salaried legal service and a modernised judiciary. Ten Minute Rule Bills allow backbenchers to initiative debates in parliament. Mitchell's call for a ministry of justice whose leader would almost certainly be required to come from within the House of Commons will put added pressure on the Lord Chancellor, who is unpopular with many Labour MPs who resent his power within the Government. An early day motion calling for a fundamental review of his position has been signed by more than 50 Labour MPs.