Chris Grayling 'admits' decimating UK's justice system

But, to the disappointment of many in the legal profession, the admission did not come from Epsom’s 52-year-old MP and Secretary of State for Justice - but from his namesake - a part-time Maths tutor and author. 

For the past six months Chris Grayling, 59, from Kent, has received a stream of tweets on Twitter blasting him for unpopular reforms to legal aid, the probation service and prisons - by those mistaking him for the Justice Secretary, who is famously not on Twitter.

Followed on the social media website by barristers, doctors, campaigners, trade unions, authors and MPs, Mr Grayling - who also shares a hairstyle with the Lord Chancellor - mostly plays along and has even been approached to stand against the MP in Epsom in next year’s general election.

He said: "It has snowballed in the last two months. 

"I’ve even been mistaken by other MPs for Chris Grayling who have sent me tweets saying they're looking forward to my announcements in the House of Commons.

"I give funny replies which I pretend are from Chris Grayling and play up to it because you quite like the attention don’t you?

"I have pretended my account has been hacked into but it hasn’t.  It’s just a bit of banter with the lawyers.

"The lawyers love me. 

"They have said they might encourage me to go up for election in Epsom so it would be Chris Grayling versus the nice Chris Grayling. 

"It has been mentioned probably more in jest than in seriousness but I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to get me to do it.

"I really am against my namesake.  I’m not a political animal, but he’s undermining fundamental legal principles."

Spot the difference? Chris Grayling MP, Secretary of State for Justice

Although Mr Grayling did not have a description of himself on his Twitter page when the confusion first surfaced, he now describes himself as the "author of the fantastically unsuccessful The Big Keep and The Big Sister". 

Both novels are self-published, but Mr Grayling said he is in the process of obtaining a literary agent.

He said he agrees with authors such as Carol Ann Duffy who are against a de facto ban on sending books to prisoners.

"This is an extraordinary blunder by Chris Grayling - that he thought this would be popular with anybody.  But he does posture to the right wing of his party. 

"It’s totally wrong in my opinion," he said.

"There must be some prisoners who want to read in prison and to not give them the right to do it is appalling."

Mr Grayling said his unexpected interaction with those in legal profession has changed his views on their work and educated him as to the reforms.

"I’ve spoken to quite a few people in the legal profession. 

"I used to think they were just fat cats.  But interacting with them has totally changed my view of the legal profession," he said.

"Standing up to Chris Grayling like they are with legal aid is very important.

"I am going to carry on.  If there is any opportunity to embarrass him or say something funny, I will."

Chris Grayling MP said he is aware of two namesakes - Kent's Mr Grayling and another in America.

He said: "He is perfectly entitled to interact with people who tweet with him.  He is a citizen of this country just like everyone else.

"One of the reasons I have had to take difficult decisions about the amount of money available for legal aid is about trying to protect the money we are spending on schools to prevent creating pressures for teachers like Mr Grayling in the education sector."

CHRIS GRAYLING'S TWEETS:

"I'd like to admit that as Justice Sec I've made a complete hash of things. My 'reforms' have decimated the UK legal and penal systems #mybad"

"Ed Miliband's geeky persona is often ridiculed.  Personally I prefer it to a sly sincerity that hides a tenous grasp of important issues."

"Cameron's support of MM [Maria Miller] illustrates perfectly his reluctance to put principle before perceived political advantage."

"Sobering Panorama on the excesses of bailiffs.  No surprise that the MoJ has no plans for tougher regulation. #shameful"

"You've got the wrong Chris Grayling. I'm slightly more human than the other one."

"I'm not him! And totally agree - banning books is vindictive, mean and short-sighted. Just like the man."

"I've spent too much time wrecking the MOJ at the expense of publicising my books."

"My raised profile on twitter has dramatically increased book sales this month. I hope the discerning person concerned enjoys it!"

"I'm doing my bit. Thinking of changing my name to David Cameron when all this fuss dies down."