After the Council the Rt Hon Liam Byrne MP had a separate audience of the Queen when Her Majesty pricked the List of High Sheriffs for the Counties of the Duchy of Lancaster. (Since the Local Government Act 1972, the Duchy of Lancaster holds and exerts the right to appoint Sheriffs in the ceremonial counties of Greater Manchester, Merseyside and Lancashire & Liam Byrne is its Chancellor, as well as minister of soup)