Lady Hale

In a speech delivered last month at the Isle of Man Law Society, but only published yesterday, the judge said: “While some families are fighting for legal recognition of their relationships, we should not forget that other families are fighting for enough to live on and to make ends meet.

“The UK government’s austerity policies have undoubtedly made this worse and have posed some uncomfortable problems for the courts.”

She also cited a report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, adding: “The problem that we have in the courts is that it is quite obvious — indeed it is officially conceded — that many of the recent changes to the benefits system impact more harshly on women, children and disabled people than they do on other groups.”

Lady Hale also appeared in the magazine Vogue yesterday, to mark 100 years since barriers preventing women from practising law were removed.

She remarked she was “absolutely staggered” that she was seen as a role model.

“This is not what I set out in life to be but it’s where I happen to be,” she said.