The government has moved to fill the gaps among law officers and justice ministers left by this week’s wave of resignations. Edward Timpson CBE MP was yesterday named as solicitor general, replacing Alex Chalk, who resigned on Tuesday.
Timpson, MP for Eddisbury in Cheshire, is a former family law barrister and is listed as a member of Chester set Linenhall Chambers.
The government also announced the appointment of Corby MP Tom Pursglove as a minister of state jointly at the Home Office and the Ministry of Justice. It is presumed that he will pick up the prisons and probation portfolio from Victoria Atkins MP, who resigned on Wednesday.
The key post of legal aid minister remains vacant following the departure of James Cartlidge MP.
Meanwhile, Boris Johnson’s unexpected reshuffle has returned two legal figures to the government. Former lord chancellor Sir Robert Buckland QC MP returns to the cabinet as secretary of state for Wales. Solicitor Shailesh Vara MP, who was a justice minister in the coalition government, has joined the cabinet as secretary of state for Northern Ireland.
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