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Democracy is under challenge in the west, a former president of the Supreme Court told me this week. Lord Neuberger of Abbotsbury, who was the UK’s most senior judge from 2012 to 2017, said the level of disappointment in governments — almost across the Western world — seemed to be pervasive and increasing. People were turning to populist alternatives and, he added, populism tends not to respect the rule of law.

Neuberger (pictured) gave me a wide-ranging interview ahead of a lecture he is delivering at the Old Bailey tonight to mark the launch of a series of events called Justice for All. He will be considering the rule of law and its place in a fair and functional society.

“Improving the rule of law ultimately comes down to political will and the appointment of strong ministers with real commitment and experience,” he says in his lecture. How, I wondered, could we encourage ministers to do what was right? That, he replied, was a very good question.

You can hear how Neuberger tackled it in the latest episode of A Lawyer Talks. My weekly podcast is a bonus for paying subscribers to A Lawyer Writes. Everyone else can hear a short taster by clicking the ► symbol above.