Proud to see my fellow barristers fighting for rule of law.

But attacking international treaties isn’t just about principles & rights. It’s damaging UK’s ECONOMY. Thread for people who care about that 1/9

UK exported £6.6 billion of legal services in 2017 (last year for figures) https://www.ons.gov.uk/businessindustryandtrade/internationaltrade/bulletins/internationaltradeinservices/2018#uk-exports-and-imports-of-services-were-dominated-by-the-professional-scientific-technical-activities-and-information-communication-industries-in-2018 2/

UK’s foreign legal income doesn’t just employ wealthy silks (QCs) Law firms and chambers employ thousands of staff on regular salaries & buy in local IT, printing, cleaning, catering etc. 3/

UK’s legal earnings from overseas rests on the reputation of English courts and lawyers for...

Rule. Of. Law.

4/

UK Ministry of Justice 2016 survey found UK is the most expensive place for foreign commercial litigation. Because UK lawyers are expensive.

But it’s still most popular. Because foreign litigants want rule of law. 5/

UK’s reputation for rule of law wasn’t built overnight. And it doesn’t rest on courts and lawyers alone.

It depends on Government too. Businesses (rightly) see courts & lawyers as open to Gov influence. It takes a lot to believe that isn’t true. 6/

Today rule of law in UK is under triple threat:

1. Gov to break Withdrawal Agreement - that *still binds* British Crown
2. Gov *again* bruiting leaving European Convention on Human Rights
3. Gov planning to put Ministers above judicial review by courts. 7/

Big business sees all this. It thinks “why pay top dollar to use UK courts if their basic guarantees are no better than ... Singapore’s*?” 8/

*English speaking courts, law v like UK’s but but Gov

There won’t be a sudden change. Nowhere else is *better* than London for rule of law. But this Gov is about the destroy UK’s unique selling point for international legal disputes.

That rule of law is sacrosanct. 9//