By
Tracyann Dunkley | Politics Watch
Robert Jenrick, the Shadow Justice Secretary, has ignited a firestorm by calling for the removal of judges who he claims bring “personal politics” into the courtroom. His latest target is Circuit Judge Sandy Canavan, who granted asylum to a Jamaican national with convictions for rape and drug dealing.
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The man claimed he faced persecution and hardship if returned to Jamaica, a plea Judge Canavan accepted. Jenrick’s fury was palpable, not just at the ruling but at what he sees as a broader rot within the judiciary. His remarks, including the loaded phrase “White Faces,” have stirred accusations of racial dog-whistling and a dangerous politicisation of the bench.
Jenrick’s campaign against so-called “activist judges” has gained traction among hardline Conservatives, who argue that lenient rulings on asylum cases are fuelling Britain’s immigration crisis. He insists that judges sympathetic to asylum seekers are undermining public safety and eroding trust in the legal system.
Critics, however, warn that his rhetoric risks turning judges into scapegoats and could lead to a chilling effect on judicial independence. Judge Canavan, whose career includes work with refugee legal charities, now finds herself at the centre of a political storm, with her integrity publicly questioned for a decision made within the bounds of UK law.
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| Judge Sandy Canavan |
The fallout from this case could be seismic. If Jenrick succeeds in pushing through reforms that allow for the sacking of judges deemed “too political,” it may usher in a new era of judicial purges. More worryingly, it could pressure judges to harden their stance against Caribbean asylum seekers, fearing political backlash.
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The question now is whether the judiciary will stand firm or bend under the weight of political interference. Either way, the implications for justice, race, and immigration policy in Britain are profound—and the battle lines have been drawn.
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