Shadow Lord Chancellor

The Shadow Lord Chancellor is the member of the British Shadow Cabinet who shadows the Lord Chancellor, an office which has existed since the Norman Conquest. From 2003 until 2007, the office-holder was also the Shadow Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs (and primarily known as such). This was changed in 2007 to become Shadow Secretary of State for Justice (also known as Shadow Justice Secretary). The current Shadow Lord Chancellor is Sadiq Khan of the Labour Party.

Shadow Lord Chancellors

Official Opposition

Name Took office Left office Political party Other office held
The Lord Irvine of Lairg QC 18 June 1992 2 May 1997 Labour
The Lord Mackay of Clashfern 2 May 1997 11 June 1997 Conservative
The Lord Kingsland QC[n 1] 11 June 1997 12 July 2009 Conservative
Vacant[n 2]
Jack Straw 11 May 2010 7 October 2010 Labour
Sadiq Khan 8 October 2010 Incumbent Labour
Notes
  1. ↑ Kingsland remained Shadow Lord Chancellor after the Government effectively combined the office with Constitutional Affairs (and later Justice) Secretary.[1][2][3][4]
  2. ↑ The Conservatives did not appoint a Shadow Lord Chancellor after Kingsland's death.[5][6]

Liberal Democrats

Name Took office Left office Title
Bob Russell MP May 1997 August 1999 Frontbench Spokespeople for Legal Affairs (Attorney General; Solicitor General; Lord Chancellor)
The Rt Hon The Lord Goodhart August 1999 March 2006 Shadow Lord Chancellor (Shadow Department for Constitutional Affairs)
David Heath MP March 2006 December 2007 Shadow Justice Secretary & Shadow Lord Chancellor
Chris Huhne MP December 2007 January 2009 Shadow Home Secretary, Shadow Justice Secretary & Shadow Lord Chancellor
David Howarth MP January 2009 May 2010 Shadow Justice Secretary & Shadow Lord Chancellor
Since May 2010, there has been no third party, the Liberal Democrats being the junior party in a coalition government

References

  1. ↑ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 21 May 2005". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 31 May 2005.
  2. ↑ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 17 December 2005". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 17 December 2005.
  3. ↑ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 6 November 2007". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 10 November 2007.
  4. ↑ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 3 November 2008". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 6 December 2008.
  5. ↑ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 20 November 2009". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 21 November 2009.
  6. ↑ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 20 November 2009". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 21 November 2009.