Alex Chalk facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alex Chalk
|
|
|---|---|
Official portrait, 2019
|
|
| Secretary of State for Justice Lord Chancellor |
|
| Assumed office 21 April 2023 |
|
| Prime Minister | Rishi Sunak |
| Preceded by | Dominic Raab |
| Minister of State for Defence Procurement | |
| In office 26 October 2022 – 21 April 2023 |
|
| Prime Minister | Rishi Sunak |
| Preceded by | Alec Shelbrooke |
| Succeeded by | James Cartlidge |
| Solicitor General for England and Wales | |
| In office 16 September 2021 – 5 July 2022 |
|
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | Michael Ellis |
| Succeeded by | Edward Timpson |
| Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice | |
| In office 14 February 2020 – 16 September 2021 |
|
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | Wendy Morton |
| Succeeded by | James Cartlidge |
| Minister of State for Prisons and Probation | |
| In office 2 March 2021 – 10 September 2021 |
|
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | Lucy Frazer |
| Succeeded by | Lucy Frazer |
| Member of Parliament for Cheltenham |
|
| Assumed office 7 May 2015 |
|
| Preceded by | Martin Horwood |
| Majority | 981 (1.7%) |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Alexander John Gervase Chalk
8 August 1976 Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Magdalen College, Oxford City University London |
Alexander John Gervase Chalk KC (born 8 August 1976) is a British politician serving as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice since April 2023. He was elected Member of Parliament for Cheltenham in 2015. Chalk has previously served in other positions in the Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Defence, and as Solicitor General for England and Wales.
Contents
Early life and law career
Chalk was born in Cheltenham on 8 August 1976, to Gilbert John Chalk and Gillian Frances Audrey Blois. He was educated at Windlesham House School, a prep school in Pulborough, West Sussex, and at Winchester College, then an all-boys independent boarding school in Winchester, Hampshire. He studied modern history at Magdalen College, Oxford.
Following graduation, Chalk obtained a Graduate Diploma in Law with distinction from the City University London, and qualified as a barrister from the Inns of Court School of Law. During his legal career he prosecuted and defended in cases concerning terrorism, international fraud, and homicide.
Political career
Chalk was first elected as a Conservative councillor for Shepherds Bush Green ward on Hammersmith and Fulham Council in May 2006. He went on to stand successfully in Addison ward in 2010, with Labour taking his former Shepherds Bush Green seat in the same election. He did not stand for re-election in 2014. Whilst on the Council he chaired the Planning Committee for four years.
In May 2017, Liberal Democrats candidate Martin Horwood said that Chalk was being actively supported by members of pro-hunting organisations Vale of White Horse Hunt, North Cotswold Hunt and Vote-OK, and questioned whether Chalk was concealing his position on fox hunting. Chalk stated: "This is another misleading and increasingly desperate attack by the Lib Dems, who are seeing their support crater. Contrary to his claims, I have made clear that I would not accept support from any hunt or from Vote OK for the election. That remains my position."
Chalk has since clarified his position further stating: "Fox hunting is banned under the Hunting Act 2004, so whether or not an offence is being committed depends on whether or not the behaviour violates its provisions. I have made clear that I would not be in favour of repealing this legislation."
Chalk was among several Conservative candidates from the 2015 general election under investigation for breaking local campaign spending limits. This related to the use of "Battle Buses" during his election campaign, the costs of which were not declared by Chalk's campaign but were instead paid for by the Conservatives' national headquarters. Had the costs been declared the strict local spending limit would have been exceeded by £1,500. Gloucestershire Constabulary confirmed it had received a complaint in 2016 and he was under investigation at the time. Following a lengthy investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service said it would take no further action against any Conservative candidates or party official, including Alex Chalk.
In March 2017, the Electoral Commission fined the Conservative Party £70,000 for failing accurately to report campaign spending. In May 2017, the Crown Prosecution Service concluded its investigations into the allegations and determined that no Conservative Party candidates or officials would face charges. An investigation into the Conservative campaign in South Thanet however was to continue.
He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Cheltenham in the 2015 general election after he achieved a swing of over 10%. His victory in the constituency was the first for a Conservative Party candidate in 23 years.
From June 2015 to January 2019, Chalk was a member of the Justice Select Committee, which scrutinises the government's decisions relating to the justice system. In addition to his role on the Justice Select Committee, Chalk was Chair of the All Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Pro Bono and Co- Chair of the APPG on Cycling. He was also the secretary of the APPG on Public Legal Education and the APPG for Highways and the vice chair of the APPG on Lyme Disease.
Chalk held his seat in the 2017 general election with a majority of 2,569.
In 2018, prompted by his concerns about an apparent rise in child and adolescent mental health in his constituency, Chalk led a Parliamentary inquiry, together with the Children's Society and Young Minds charities, into the impact of social media and cyber bullying on young people's mental health. Following the launch of the report, it was referenced in the Government's Response to the Internet Safety Strategy Green Paper (published May 2018).
In 2018, Chalk was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary (PPS) to the Department of Education. He was then appointed PPS to the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care later in 2018, and then in May 2019 became PPS to the new Secretary of State for Defence Penny Mordaunt.
Ministerial career
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice
In February 2020, Chalk was appointed as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice.
During the Coronavirus pandemic, Chalk was responsible for mitigating the impact of COVID-19 on the justice system – working to restart the courts system in a safe manner whilst providing ongoing support to the funeral sector, the legal sector and the charitable sector.
.....
In June 2020, Chalk took the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill through Parliament which spares divorcing couples from having to apportion blame for the breakdown of their marriage.
In August 2020, Chalk published the "Harm in the Family Courts" review and accompanying action plan, which seeks to improve how the family courts identify and respond to allegations of domestic abuse and other serious offences, in cases involving disputes between parents about the arrangements for their children.
In March 2021, Chalk launched the Criminal Legal Aid Independent Review and accelerated criminal legal aid measures, increasing funding by £51m per annum for solicitors and barristers.
.....
In April 2021, Chalk published the Victims' Code – which sets out the services and information victims of crime are entitled to from criminal justice agencies – such as the police and courts – from when they report a crime to the end of the trial.
Chalk was also responsible for progressing the Domestic Abuse Bill through the Commons. For the first time in history, the Bill also included a wide-ranging legal definition of domestic abuse which incorporates a range of abuses beyond physical violence, including emotional, coercive or controlling behaviour, and economic abuse.
Prisons and Probation Minister
In March 2021, Chalk was temporarily appointed as Prisons and Probations Minister whilst his predecessor, Lucy Frazer KC MP, was reappointed as Solicitor General when Suella Braverman MP was designated as a Minister on Leave.
In May 2021, it was reported by The Times that Chalk had told prison officials that they "must stop calling inmates residents, clients or supervised individuals because it creates the wrong impression of criminals". Chalk reportedly told civil servants, prison staff, governors and probation officers that they should stick to using the word prisoner as the increasing use of alternative language to refer to and address prisoners was "sending mixed messages about how the state and wider society perceived serious criminals."
In May 2021, Chalk announced that new prisons will be 'net zero' in future, with the four new prisons being built in England using heat pumps, efficient lighting systems and thousands of solar panels, to reduce energy demand by half and cut carbon emissions by at least 85% compared to prisons already under construction. Chalk also announced that charities and companies which help rehabilitate offenders had been awarded around £200 million of Government funding to provide support services that help reduce reoffending, such as employment and housing advice.
In June 2021, Chalk announced that 1,000 new trainee probation officers had been recruited to bolster the work the Probation Service does. He also announced an overhaul to the unpaid work that offenders are ordered to do as part of community service.
In July 2021, Chalk announced a new scheme to provide temporary, basic accommodation to prison leavers for twelve weeks in an attempt to cut crime by reducing the number of prison leavers ending up homeless so that they have the foundation to get a job and access treatment for addictions.
In August 2021, Chalk announced that thousands more solar panels will be fitted to prisons to help cut carbon emissions and to save taxpayers’ money. The installations were expected to cut more than 1,300 tonnes of carbon from the Earth's atmosphere and provide 20% of each prison's electricity. It was estimated that this would save £800,000 of taxpayers' money a year.
In August 2021, the Ministry of Justice announced the expansion of the Clink Kitchens Scheme to a further 25 prisons by the end of the year, giving offenders the chance to work in professionally-run prison kitchens with the intention of turning them away from a life of crime. In the programme prisoners train in professionally-run prison kitchens for up to 35 hours a week, preparing and cooking thousands of meals daily, while working towards professional qualifications which will help them find employment after release.
HM Solicitor General for England and Wales
On 16 September 2021, Chalk was appointed Her Majesty's Solicitor-General for England and Wales. After his appointment, he became a Queen's Counsel and was officially sworn in on 23 September 2021.
As Solicitor General, Chalk sought to ensure that criminals receive custodial sentences that appropriately reflect the nature of their crimes. He has referred a significant number of cases to the Court of Appeal under the unduly lenient sentence scheme, securing enhanced sentences against more than 38 serious offenders in his first eight months in the role. On average, these offenders have been handed down an enhanced sentence that is 56 percent longer than the original sentence they received. .....
In January 2021, a man who had previously been given a suspended sentence having been asked to read improving books was sentenced to an immediate prison term after Chalk personally presented the case on behalf of the Government at the Court of Appeal.
Ben John, aged 22, was in possession of tens of thousands of politically extreme and far-right documents and files, including white nationalist and anti-Semitic materials. He was also found to own a copy of ‘‘The Anarchist Cookbook’’, a widely available book containing instructions for the manufacture of explosives and rudimentary weapons. In August 2021, John was given a suspended sentence. Following Chalk's presentation in court, the Court of Appeal increased John's sentence to 2 years’ imprisonment with a 1 year licence period.
In March 2021, Chay Bowskill saw his sentence for kidnapping, coercive control and perverting the course of justice increased from 7 and a half years to 12 years following Chalk’s decision to refer the case to the Court of Appeal. Bowskill was responsible for the incident which led to Angel Lynn falling from a vehicle moving at high speed in September 2020. Lynn suffered catastrophic injuries as a result of this incident, with severe brain damage rendering her unable to talk, walk and communicate.”
Chalk also referred the sentences to Emma Tustin and Thomas Hughes to the Court of Appeal after they were convicted of murder and manslaughter respectively for their roles in the death of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.
Arthur Labinjo-Hughes died aged six from unsurvivable brain injuries following years of abuse by Tustin and Hughes. At the time of his death, a medical review found that he was covered in 130 bruises, that he had been poisoned with salt, and that the extent of his injuries amounted to torture. The original sentences handed down to Tustin and Hughes were 29 and 21 years respectively.
Chalk resigned as Solicitor General on 5 July 2022, citing the Owen Paterson scandal, Partygate and the Chris Pincher scandal.
Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence
From October 2022 to April 2023, Chalk was Minister of State in the Ministry of Defence.
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice
.jpg)
On 21 April 2023, Chalk was named to succeed Dominic Raab as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor. King Charles III appointed him to those offices at a meeting of the Privy Council on 26 April 2023, at which he was also sworn of the council.
Parliamentary debates
Chalk has spoken in more debates than the average member of parliament. He has voted the same way as other Conservative MPs on a vast majority of issues. However, Chalk has sometimes differed from his colleagues, such as voting against investigations into the Iraq War, while most Conservative MPs generally voted for. In December 2015, Chalk voted for UK airstrikes against Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant in Syria.
In April 2016, he voted against a plan for Britain to accept 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees who had travelled to Europe. Following the vote, Chalk published his response to constituents explaining the context of the vote and stated that it was "one of the toughest votes in [his] time in Parliament". Chalk alongside other MPs, including Richard Graham from the neighbouring Gloucester constituency, tabled a debate in parliament about stalking and sponsored a private member's bill, in order to raise the maximum sentence for stalking from five to ten years. An amendment to the Policing and Crime Act 2017 raised the maximum sentence for stalking to ten years.
Political positions
Environmental issues
In early 2018, he launched a 'Final Straw' campaign in Cheltenham to ban single-use plastic straws, which the government announced it would do. He supported a bottle return scheme. Chalk has spoken out in support of measures to protect animals, such as "Lucy's Law", seeking to ban third-party puppy farmer sales. He led a debate on protecting the UK's bee population. Chalk was selected to sit on the Committee to scrutinise the Ivory Bill 2017–2019, which sought to ban the commercial use of elephant ivory. Chalk had called for the Government to crack down on the illegal wildlife trade.
On 30 April 2019, Chalk tabled a Ten Minute Rule Bill seeking to enshrine in law that the UK reaches a net zero carbon account by 2050,writing "we in the UK need to play our part in stopping the runaway train of climate change." Chalk's Bill received cross-party support and received Royal Assent in 2019 as the UK became the first major economy to pass laws to end its contribution to global warming by 2050. Other than this, Chalk has consistently voted against climate change prevention measures in Parliament.
Legal aid
Chalk says he is ardently in favour of reinstating legal aid for early legal advice, believing it to be both fair and cost-effective. He argued that it made sense to address straightforward legal problems before they escalate and end up costing more in the long term. However, he has never voted on the subject.
Cyber security
One of Chalk's longest-running campaigns is for the creation of Cheltenham Cyber Park, to be built near GCHQ, launched in 2014. Chalk secured £23 million in Government funding for the project.
Views on membership of the European Union
Chalk supported remaining within the European Union in the 2016 the United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. He supported the government by voting to trigger Article 50, which formally began the process of Britain's exit from the European Union, along with a majority of cross-party MPs, as a way of respecting the referendum result.
Chalk voiced concerns relating to leaving the EU without a deal, but discouraged a People's Vote rally in Cheltenham to fight against a "No Deal Brexit". Chalk consistently argued that the only way to avoid No Deal and to respect the result of the referendum was to vote for a deal. Chalk advocated a "moderate, compromise deal" with cross-party colleagues, but since 2019 consistently voted in Parliament to support government legislation to leave the EU.
Personal life
Chalk is married, with three children, and lives in the Charlton Park ward in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham.
