JK Rowling rebukes Ukip's Suzanne Evans assertion judges could need 'democratic control'

'Yes, and why stop at judges? So sick of unelected doctors deciding what's wrong with me,' says the Harry Potter author

Conservative pro-Remain MP Anna Soubry has also condemned Ms Evans

JK Rowling has rebuked Ukip leadership candidate Suzanne Evans for her suggestion that judges could be subject to “democratic control”.

Ms Evans told BBC Radio 4’s Today program that judges could be “subject to some kind of democratic control” following the High Court's decision to give Parliament a vote on triggering Brexit. She also argued the legal process could “water down Brexit”.

“I think it's amusing that the very same people who say it's all about parliamentary sovereignty have, for the last 48 years, been trying to undermine parliamentary sovereignty,” she said on Monday.

”I think there's a debate to be had about whether or not judges are subject to some kind of democratic control.“

While Ms Evans said she did not want to undermine “their judicial independence”, she added: “I suppose that in this case, we have had a situation where we have judges committed to stay in the European Union…".

"I'm questioning the legitimacy of this particular case. We know that the legal profession threw a collective hissy fit when we voted to leave.”

But Ms Evans, a former spokesperson for Ukip, insisted she did not want to get “rid of judges”.

The Harry Potter author has attacked her comments on Twitter. “Yes, and why stop at judges?" she wrote. "So sick of unelected doctors deciding what's wrong with me. Let's put it to a vote. #DownWithExperts".

Conservative pro-Remain MP Anna Soubry has also condemned Ms Evans, tweeting: “Heaven help us! Suzanne Evans talking dangerous nonsense. ‘Democratic control“ of judges. It's the way of fascism.”

The Independent contacted a representative of Evans for comment.