Boris Johnson has made an almost clean sweep of ministerial ranks at the Ministry of Justice, presenting his new lord chancellor with a team of rising political stars rather than legal experts.
Wednesday’s reshuffle brought promotions to two members of the former ministerial lineup. Barrister Lucy Frazer QC MP was promoted to financial secretary to the Treasury, with high-profile responsibilities for tax policy and customs. Meanwhile Alex Chalk, formerly minister of state, becomes solicitor general for England and Wales.
Chris Philp has been moved sideways to the role of parliamentary under secretary of state at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
However Kit Malthouse, MP for Northwest Hampshire, remains at the Ministry of Justice as minister of state. Victoria Atkins, MP for Louth and Horncastle, also becomes minister of state. She retains her previous Home Office role as minister for the Afghan resettlement scheme.
In the most junior ranks South Suffolk MP James Cartlidge and Corby MP Thomas Pursglove were appointed parliamentary under secretaries of state for justice.
On his appointment as solicitor general, Chalk said: 'I am looking forward to working with the attorney general, Suella Braverman, to help build back better and safer from the pandemic and to continue the government’s work in rebuilding confidence and trust in our criminal justice system.'
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