If David Lammy was at all concerned about being demoted from the Foreign Office, there was no sign of it during his first appearance as justice secretary in the Commons. Answering questions about court backlogs this week, Lammy lost no time in reminding MPs that he was ‘back on his old beat’. ‘He needs to get into the weeds and look at the bill,’ said Lammy, deftly patronising his shadow. ‘He can do better.’Introducing his predecessor’s bill, Lammy said it was an honour to take up this brief. Earlier, Lammy had tabled the government’s Public Office (Accountability) Bill, which requires public authorities and public officials to act with candour, transparency and frankness.