Labour justice minister Andy Slaughter raised a laugh at a predictably bellicose annual conference of the Association of Personal Injury Lawyers last week (Lord Justice Jackson’s ears must have been burning, let’s put it that way).

Slaughter (pictured) said: ‘I can think of no better way of introducing myself to you than through the words of the Daily Mail parliamentary sketch writer who was kind enough to mention me in his report of the exchange between Ken Clarke and Sadiq Khan announcing the government’s implementation of the Jackson proposals two weeks ago: "Alongside Mr Khan on the Labour front bench sat a man called Slaughter, a lispy, slippery barrister who specialises in personal injury cases.

'"Mr Slaughter did not say anything for which we the nation will give much thanks. But he looked quietly fed up by Mr Clarke’s announcement."

‘Lispy and slippery I have no problem with,’ said Slaughter, ‘but in the current climate to be called a personal injury lawyer is a gross calumny. I would file for defamation, but I’m having trouble arranging a CFA.’