Secretary of State for Justice

United Kingdom Secretary of State for Justice
Arms of Her Majesty's Government
Flag of the United Kingdom
Incumbent Michael Gove since 8 May 2015
Ministry of Justice
Style	The Right Honourable
Appointer	Elizabeth II
Inaugural holder	Charles Falconer
Formation	9 May 2007
Deputy	Minister of State for Justice
Website	www.justice.gov.uk/

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Her Majesty's Principal Secretary of State for Justice is a senior position in the cabinet of the United Kingdom, held in conjunction with the office of Lord Chancellor since it was created in 2007, replacing the former post of Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs. 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, Charles 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 on the resignation of Gordon Brown after the General Election of 11 May 2010. He was replaced by Conservative MP Kenneth Clarke. In the Cabinet reshuffle of August 2012 Chris Grayling MP was promoted to Lord Chancellor and, by convention, Secretary of State for Justice. After the 2015 UK General election, the position was given to former Government Chief Whip Michael Gove MP.

List of Secretaries of State

Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor
Name		Portrait	Term of office		Political party	Prime Minister
	Lord Falconer of Thoroton		12 June 2003	8 May 2007	Labour		Tony Blair
Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor
Name		Portrait	Term of office		Political party	Prime Minister
	Lord Falconer of Thoroton		9 May 2007	27 June 2007	Labour		Tony Blair
	Jack Straw		28 June 2007	11 May 2010	Labour		Gordon Brown
	Kenneth Clarke		12 May 2010	4 September 2012	Conservative		David Cameron (Coalition)
	Chris Grayling		4 September 2012	9 May 2015	Conservative
	Michael Gove		9 May 2015	present	Conservative		David Cameron (II)

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