Leslie Thomas QC said wigs were “fashioned for caucasian hair” and look “ridiculous” on black barristers.

His comment came after Michael Etienne was told he risked being in contempt if he failed to wear his wig in court. Mr Etienne wrote to the Bar Council to clarify the consequences of not wearing a wig.

He tweeted their response, which “included: ‘contempt of court’, ‘wasted costs’ and various potential breaches of code of conduct. Unless the insistence was discriminatory.”

Mr Thomas dismissed the justifications for keeping wigs as “nonsense”.

“Wigs are 17th century male fashion,” he told The Times. “To have them in the 21st century is nonsense.”

Mr Etienne said that the Bar Council “doesn’t make the rules but it is supposed to be the representative body. So, we might hope it takes proactive steps to address this issue in the interests of its black members”.

Sam Mercer, head of equality at the Bar Council, said the professional body was “absolutely” prepared to “take soundings” on the issue.