'Jack Straw's decision to no longer force applicants for the judiciary to declare if they are Freemasons was today branded a "disgrace" by a Labour MP. Gordon Prentice (Pendle) said there would again be a "cloak of secrecy" following the move by the Justice Secretary.
Mr Straw said last week that a review had shown no evidence of "impropriety or malpractice" as a result of a judge being a Freemason and it would be "disproportionate" to continue with the practice, introduced in 1998. The United Grand Lodge of England made representations to ministers in May and indicated it might seek judicial review of the policy.'
