Gauke resigned this week ahead of Boris Johnson’s appointment as Prime Minister.
Llanelli-born Buckland, the MP for Swindon South since 2010, served as Solicitor General from 2014 until May this year, when he was appointed prisons minister. Unlike the majority of the Cabinet, he supported Remain in the 2016 referendum on EU membership but later told constituents he felt strongly that the result should be upheld.
He practised as a barrister in Cardiff from 1992 to 2010, and was appointed as a Recorder in 2009, sitting as a part-time Judge in the Crown Court. He became a QC when he was made Solicitor General.
Gauke tweeted: ‘This is a good appointment. Not a solicitor, merely a barrister, but this will go down well.’
Law Society President Simon Davis, who this week called on the incoming government to prioritise resolving low fees and funding shortages in the criminal justice system, said: ‘As a former criminal barrister, he will well understand the challenges facing our justice system.
‘Decades of cuts have had widespread effects on the profession and the public―with legal aid deserts emerging across the country and criminal solicitors struggling to survive on low rates of pay. We look forward to working with the new Lord Chancellor to address these issues, improve access to justice and promote England and Wales as a global legal centre.’
The Bar Council commented on Twitter: 'We welcome the appointment of @RobertBuckland as Lord Chancellor. His experience from practise at the Bar & from positions he has held in govt will be invaluable in guiding the MoJ & protecting our justice system. We look forward to working with him.'
Geoffrey Cox QC continues as Attorney General.
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