Oh dear, Justice Minister Jonathan Djanogly has put his foot in it again...
Fun times: Jonathan Djanogly during Tuesday's debate about cutting legal aid for asbestos victims where he heard stories about people who had died from Mesothelioma
The extraordinary behaviour of the former SJ Berwin partner during Tuesday’s debate on plans to remove legal aid for asbestos victims has enraged Labour MPs and lawyers.
Labour MP Helen Jones told the House of Commons: “During the last debate, many of us were dismayed by the conduct of the minister on the front bench, who giggled and grinned through descriptions of people dying of mesothelioma and what they suffered."
“Mr Speaker,” she continued. “I have to say that in almost 15 years in this house, I have never seen conduct which so demeans a minister of the crown and which is so damaging to the reputation of this house."
The Speaker asked Djanogly if he wanted to respond. But the Justice Minister, who in 2010 famously hired a firm of private detectives to conduct an undercover investigation into his aides and colleagues, declined.
Labour MP Ian Wright challenged Djanogly during the debate itself.
“I have to say, listening and seeing the minister in his place tonight, he’s doing himself no credit with the smirking and the body language," he said.
In response to which Djanogly just flashed that Jay Gatsby-like winning grin of his (watch the incident below).
Heather Iqbal-Rayner, vice chair of the Junior Lawyers Division of the Law Society and a solicitor at Tenovus Cancer Charity, told Legal Cheek of her “dismay” over Djanogly’s smirking.
She also refuted his suggestion that the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill (LASPO), of which the new asbestos claims regime is a part, would protect claimants from unscrupulous personal injury lawyers. “What the Bill actually does is prescribe that claimants can now lose up to 25% of their damages when a case is successful," she added, continuing:
"Many young lawyers have appealed against the devastating effects of the Bill and this behaviour highlights Djanogly’s unprofessional conduct in presenting a Bill which has far reaching effects for the legal profession and their clients."
Watch Djanogly being confronted on his "smirking" by Labour's Wright (at 21:59:45) below.
Badly done, Mr Djanogly. Badly done.
Quite simply, it's one of the first things that you learn as a lawyer - Never smile when you're leaving court.
The Minister for Justice needs to visit a hospice, maybe that will wipe the smirk off his face.
Shameful behaviour.
Disgraceful, shameful, insensitive, unbelievable, disrespectful - a public servant behaving in this way is unacceptable - is this really who we want representing us??? and we say the youth of today need dressing down - just look who some of their role models are! Say no more!! Resignation is not nearly punishment enough for this display of ignorance and conceit. He clearly has no understanding of the pain and suffering of these victims and their families.
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I think the word you're all searching for is "twat".
He wants strangling.
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I would not behave like he has done, as I will be standing in the election in 2015 and I hope Johnathan will be standing as I will be bringing this up and laughing at him when I tell the people of Huntingdon what he done in the House.
I think it is disgusting behavior what Mr Djanogly has shown and with every thing else has done in his second term in office, he should of been sacked by now.
Enhorabuena por tu ortografia. Un beso!