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Chris Harper comments on the appointment of Ken Clarke as Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, which has been welcomed by members of the Bar and Law Society.

The decision to appoint Ken Clarke as Lord Chancellor came as a surprise to many. Nick Green QC, the chairman of the Bar Association said; "things are going to be tough; ministers have been given a very difficult task by the Treasury and in any battle with the Treasury, Ken is not a bad person to fight the Ministry of Justice corner."

The president of the Law Society said: "Reaction is positive. It's good to see a man of his great experience in such an important position. He will bring clear decision making to the Ministry of Justice - that would reflect his past performance in other roles. And he's a tough negotiator."

Ken Clarke was first appointed as MP for Rushcliffe in 1970, he is one of the longest serving MPs and is by far the most experienced member of the current Cabinet. He has contested the Tory leadership on three occasions but his failure to win has been put down to his pro-European views.

A lawyer by training, he was called to the Bar in 1963 and was made a QC in 1980. As part of his Lord Chancellor's oath he swore to uphold the independence of the judiciary and made a commitment to maintaining adequate resources for the justice system. However, neither the Bar or the Law Society expects any special favours - more cuts are expected in Legal Aid, but it is hoped that cuts can be made elsewhere to soften the blow. Many have suggested that these cuts could be made by reducing the money spent on building new prisons, saving money for more effective methods of reducing offending while avoiding cuts elsewhere.

It is hoped by many that Mr Clarke will fight the corner for justice but he will be equally able to hold the lawyers to account. Mr Clarke has said "I do hold the rule of law in very high regard. I do have very strong views about the independence of the judiciary, and the independence of the legal profession."

Mr Clarke will follow in the footsteps of an illustrious line of Lord Chancellors including Sir Thomas More and Lord Halisham. The origins of the office of Lord Chancellor date back to the Norman Conquest. The new Lord Chancellor commented: "I hope I can live up to the very considerable responsibilities which I am conscious I have undertaken."

Chris is the head of the Litigation and Dispute Resolution team in Exeter. The team is described as "exceptional" in the Legal 500 2010 independent directory.