The distinction between civil and legal procedings does matter, because they are very different processes with very different outcomes. Yes, there are concerns that NDAs could deter people from going to the police, but those concerns had already been raised before this matter, and pressure is growing to ensure that this does not happen in future. Hain's grandstanding has added nothing to that debate.

Raggytash's point about claims of anti-semitism in the Labour Party misses the point, because these were not the subject of a court injunction. But suppose they had been? Suppose those accused had gone to court, and had been given an injunction to prevent them from being named while the case was being prepared so the evidence could be properly examined? Suppose a Tory MP or peer had then used parliamentary privilege to name them anyway? They would quite rightly be criticised for abusing that privilege for purely political purposes. I don't see anything different in what Hain did.

I don't mind in the least that Green has been embarrassed or made to look even more odious than he already did. I do mind that justice is sidelined and legal processes undermined to make a political point.