Lord Chancellor to retire

The Lord Chancellor, Lord Mackay of Clashfern, has said he will retire after the election. Lord Mackay wrote to the Prime Minister last week informing him of his decision. Yesterday John Major wrote back expressing his sadness at the news but saying that he fully understood Lord Mackay's reasons.

Lord Mackay said in his letter that he had himself promoted an Act of Parliament requiring judges to retire at 70. He wrote: "I will myself reach that age in July, and I think it right that I should bide by that rule. I have therefore decided I should retire from the Lord Chancellorship after the next general election." In his response, Mr Major said: "You have served with enormous skill, patience and dignity as Lord Chancellor for almost 10 years - the longest continuous service of a Lord Chancellor this century."