Business leader dubbed ‘prince of darkness’ to oversee courts reform

A businessman known for sacking thousands of workers has been appointed to oversee the government’s £1 billion court reforms.

Tim Parker is currently the chair of the privatised Post Office and the National Trust, and a former chief executive of shoe chain Clerks. He previously spent time at the AA, where he cut the jobs of half of the motoring organisation’s 7,000-strong workforce. Another episode saw Parker dubbed “the prince of darkness” by GMB, a trade union, after he was seen arriving in a Porsche sports car to sack a group of factory workers. He has also worked at the Treasury and was briefly deputy mayor of London under Boris Johnson.

Parker has now been appointed chair of HM Courts & Tribunals Service. He said: “I am delighted to be joining HMCTS and look forward to spearheading its programme of reform - bringing courts and tribunals into the digital age and ensuring they are providing the best service possible for the public.”

David Gauke, the justice secretary, said: “I am delighted to be joining HMCTS and look forward to spearheading its programme of reform - bringing courts and tribunals into the digital age and ensuring they are providing the best service possible for the public.”