England: Solicitor appointed Lord Chancellor for the first time

A solicitor has been appointed Lord Chancellor in the UK government for the first time following Prime Minister Theresa May’s latest reshuffle.

David Gauke succeeds David Lidington, who has been appointed minister for the Cabinet Office.

Mr Gauke practised as a solicitor in the financial services group of Macfarlanes for six years from 1999-2005 before entering politics.

The post of Lord Chancellor has traditionally been held by a barrister rather than a solicitor, but the last four Lord Chancellors were not legally qualified.

Angela Rafferty QC, chairperson of the Criminal Bar Association, told The Brief that the public would “require reassurance that justice is given priority” considering the high turnover of justice secretaries.