Most governmental roles at the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) have now been allocated, with barrister and former Northern Ireland Secretary Brandon Lewis replacing Dominic Raab as Justice Secretary
Lewis was subject to criticism in 2020 when he admitted a bill to amend the UK’s agreement with the EU would ‘break international law in a specific and limited way’. One of his first challenges will be to respond to strikes by the Criminal Bar.
Michael Ellis KC, a barrister who has served in a variety of government jobs including standing in for Suella Braverman as Attorney General while she was on maternity leave, has been appointed Attorney General. Former Attorney General Suella Braverman has replaced Priti Patel as Home Secretary.
Barrister Michael Tomlinson has been appointed Solicitor General. Former banker and IT publishing entrepreneur Rachel Maclean has been appointed a minister of state at the MoJ. Lord Bellamy, whose criminal legal aid review called for a minimum 15% increase in legal aid fees, continues as a minister at the MoJ.
