Lady Hale’s striking spider brooch was the talk of social media as she delivered the Supreme Court’s verdict on the Prime Minister’s prorogation of Parliament.
The court’s president spoke on Tuesday to deliver the unanimous verdict of 11 justices that Boris Johnson’s decision to suspend Parliament until October 14 was unlawful.
But, despite the gravity of the announcement being made, some found their attention drawn to the jewellery displayed on Lady Hale’s right shoulder.
Some referenced Mr Johnson’s decision to compare himself to the Incredible Hulk in his dealings with the EU.
Author Nick Harkaway said that “the Hulk can smash as many things as he likes, but with great power comes great responsibility”.
Referencing the Spider Man theme tune, Twitter user David QC wrote: “Spider brooch, spider brooch; Giving Johnson a stern reproach”
Some felt the brooch was an allusion to a famous Walter Scott quote.
Writer and historian Anne Louise Avery wrote: “Lady Hale demonstrating the potential for vast novelistic sub-narratives offered by a correctly chosen brooch. What a tangled web we weave, indeed.”
Some spotted an opportunity for humour, with comedian Tiernan Douieb saying: “I really hope that spider doesn’t get Lady Hale before she announces it.”
Richard Herring tweeted: “It’d be great if she ends by spotting the spider and pretending to be freaked out by it.”
Writer Jean Hannah Edelstein joked that the verdict indicated a “clear brooch of the law”.
Journalist Charlie Cooper felt it could prove an odd spectacle to American Harry Potter fans, as she tweeted: “When America wakes up to see that Boris Johnson has been schooled by a judge who looks like Professor McGonagall and wears a spider brooch it’s going to freak”
It is not the first time Lady Hale’s choice of brooch has caught the eye.
In the past she has worn brooches featuring a caterpillar, a butterfly and a frog, among others.
Leave.EU dubs Supreme Court lawyers “Enemies of the People”
Since you are here
Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.
Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.
Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.
If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.
To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.
The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.
The shop can be found here.
You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .
