Ed Miliband's wife Justine Thornton 'delighted' to join ranks of QCs

Updated

The wife of ex-Labour leader Ed Miliband is among 107 senior lawyers to be appointed a QC.

Environmental barrister Justine Thornton said she was "absolutely delighted" to join the ranks of Queen's Counsel.

Candidates for the status - known as "taking silk" because of the right it confers to wear special robes in court - are considered each year from across the legal profession by an independent panel "for excellence in advocacy in the higher courts".

Legal journalist and commentator Joshua Rozenberg was among eight individuals made honorary QCs by the Queen on the recommendation of Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary Michael Gove.

Child adoption and abduction specialist Anne-Marie Hutchinson and Clive Walker, an expert on terrorism law who has helped shape UK policy, were also among recipients of the title, which is awarded for contributions to the law outside court practice.

More than half of women who applied were granted QC status - compared with 43% for male colleagues - but were still outnumbered by 25 to 82, official statistics released by the Ministry of Justice showed.

Men were more slightly likely to be interviewed - by 72% to 70%.

Fewer than a third (29%) of the 32 known applications from ethnic minority lawyers were successful - with only 56% being invited to interview.

Of 10 applicants whose race was not revealed, six were interviewed and two were successful.

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