Secretary of State for Justice

Secretary of State for Justice
Arms of Her Majesty's Government Ministry of Justice
Incumbent Kenneth Clarke since 12 May 2010
Style	The Right Honourable
Appointer	David Cameron as Prime Minister
Inaugural holder	Lord Falconer of Thoroton
Formation	9 May 2007
Deputy	Minister of State for Justice
Website	Ministry of Justice

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The Secretary of State for Justice is a senior position in the cabinet of the United Kingdom. It was created in 2007 replacing the abolished Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, which was originally intended to fulfil those functions of the office of Lord Chancellor which related to the Lord Chancellor's Department. On 9 May 2007, the Department for Constitutional Affairs was abolished, and a Ministry of Justice was created in its place. The Ministry of Justice is also responsible for certain functions transferred from the Home Office.

The then Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, was appointed to the post of Secretary of State for Justice on the abolition of his position as Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs. The Home Secretary, John Reid, told Parliament that future Secretaries of State for Justice would be MPs rather than peers. Jack Straw took over this department on 28 June 2007, following the selection of Gordon Brown as leader of the Labour Party and Prime Minister and left office after the resignation of Gordon Brown on 11 May 2010. He was replaced by Conservative MP Ken Clarke.

List of Secretaries of State for Justice

Colour key (for political parties):
Politicians:       Conservative       Labour
Governments:       Single party government       Coalition government

Name		Portrait	Term of office		Political party		Prime Minister			Notes
	The Rt. Hon. The Lord Falconer of Thoroton PC, QC		9 May 2007	27 June 2007	Labour		•		Tony Blair	Previously the first and only Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs; also held the office and title of Lord Chancellor.
	The Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP		28 June 2007	11 May 2010	Labour		•		Gordon Brown	First non-peer to serve as Lord Chancellor since Sir Robert Henley as Lord Keeper of the Seal in 1760.
	The Rt. Hon. Kenneth Clarke MP, QC		12 May 2010	Incumbent	Conservative		•		David Cameron	Also holds the office and title of Lord Chancellor.

See also

• Constitutional Reform Act 2005
• Lord Chancellor

External links

• The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs Order 2003 from HMSO
• The Ministry of Justice official website