Set Free

A free vote, says Ken Clark. Probably without the slightest authorisation, but that has always been Ken Clarke, and, as ever with him, it is too late now.

So, who will table an amendment saying that of course we should not extend to those accused of rape the anonymity enjoyed by their accusers, but should instead take it away from those adult accusers? Ours in an open system of justice.

Like the secrecy of the family courts, like convictions on anonymous evidence, and like both pre-trial convictions and pre-trial acquittals by the Crown Prosecution Service, such anonymity violates that absolute principle. Away with them all.