A politician with no legal training and limited experience of the legal world becomes Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor. The legal world is offended and fellow politicians speak out against this unwise appointment. Some resign in protest, or refuse to work under the new minister. ‘I fear this could be damaging to the justice system,’ warns one peer, as he walks away from his ministerial portfolio.
Three politicians who fit that description of no legal training or experience in the legal world have been appointed Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor in the past four years. Chris Grayling was the first, taking on the job in 2012, followed by Michael Gove who took over in 2015. Gove was then sacked from the government and succeeded by Liz Truss. But only one of these legally inexperienced politicians has provoked furious protests in their first week of the job.
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