Local MP, Gordon Prentice, told Justice Secretary, Jack Straw, today that judges should continue to be required to disclose if they are freemasons.

Speaking in the Commons, the Pendle MP said that in an age of transparency it was "disgraceful" that judges could, in future, keep their membership of the freemasons secret. It is reported that one in twenty judges and 1,900 out of 30,000 magistrates are freemasons.

Last week, Straw announced that the rule requiring disclosure was to be swept away after eleven years after developments in the EU apparently raised questions about its legality. Straw explained there was no evidence of impropriety or malpractice within the judiciary.

Speaking after the exchange, Prentice said: "I understand that the United Grand Lodge of England was threatening a judicial review. Ministers should have let events take their course instead of caving in."

"In this day and age, what on earth is wrong with requiring disclosure?"