Speaking in the gilded splendor of London’s Lancaster House last week, attorney general Dominic Grieve QC (pictured) shared some advice given to him by his predecessor when he took up the post. Labour’s Lady Scotland told him that he would do fine if he developed the ability to look ministerial colleagues in the eye and tell them that their latest scheme was ‘a brilliant idea, but ever so slightly unlawful’.

Grieve may find it trickier to follow that advice now that the prime minister has reportedly told ministers to be bolder in ignoring legal caveats. Apparently David Cameron told his colleagues in a special Cabinet session on the government’s plan for economic growth to be more circumspect about cautionary advice from government lawyers. ‘Sometimes the risk is small and it’s worth taking,’ the meeting apparently heard.

Obiter suspects that Number Ten has been ringing with the traditional request to ‘bring me a one-handed lawyer’.