The UK’s most senior justice minister, the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine, has signalled the likely demise of the Silk system – the controversial Government accreditation awarded to UK court advocates – after last month telling the latest batch of appointees they could be the last.

Speaking at a ceremony for the presentation of the so-called Silk awards on 29 April, Irvine conceded it may no longer be appropriate for the state to award a legal quality mark.