Over the years I’ve watched a few lord chancellors clad in ceremonial robes walk down Carey Street, greeted by the lord chief justice and master of the rolls on the steps of the Royal Courts of Justice, then head into the beautiful gothic court building to take their judicial oath.
But yesterday, I was fortunate to witness a female Asian lord chancellor walk down Carey Street and be greeted by a lady chief justice.
It was a historic first. And a surprisingly emotional moment for yours truly, who excitedly hurried out of her office yesterday afternoon to capture the moment on camera.
You see, I didn’t think I had any role models when I was growing up, until I realised later in life that I did: my mum, who taught me the importance of being a self-reliant woman (ironic given I wouldn’t be where I am today if she hadn’t paid for my car insurance to enable me to live in rural Buckinghamshire as a junior reporter on a ridiculously low wage); and Gargy Patel, who presented my local BBC news bulletins, who I name checked when my mum was worried about my decision to become a journalist.
Mahmood and Carr have become incredibly important role models for young women – showing that life in very high public office is achievable.
Did I also go home and show my daughter photos of Mahmood being greeted by the lady chief justice and master of the rolls? Yes, I did - because it is particularly important for me to teach my daughter not to see our ethnicity, and our skin colour, as barriers to achieving our dreams.
I long for the day a female lord chancellor being sworn in by a lady chief justice is no big deal. Until then, I’ll keep on publicly cheering special moments like these.
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