Charlie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Lord Falconer of Thoroton
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Studio portrait, 2017
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Secretary of State for Justice Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 12 June 2003 – 28 June 2007 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Monarch | Elizabeth II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Prime Minister | Tony Blair | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | The Lord Irvine of Lairg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jack Straw | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Member of the House of Lords | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Assumed life peerage 15 May 1997 |
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born |
Charles Leslie Falconer
19 November 1951 Edinburgh, Scotland |
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Political party | Labour | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Children | Hamish, William "Rocco", Rosie, Johnny | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Queens' College, Cambridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Charles Leslie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton (born 19 November 1951) is a British Labour politician. He is also a peer and a barrister (a type of lawyer). He served as Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice under Prime Minister Tony Blair from 2003 to 2007.
Born in Edinburgh, Scotland, Falconer studied law at Queens' College, Cambridge. He then became a barrister in London. He was a flatmate of Tony Blair before Blair became Prime Minister. While Blair went into politics, Falconer focused on his legal career. He became a Queen's Counsel, which is a senior lawyer.
After Blair became Prime Minister, Falconer was made a life peer. This means he was given the title of Baron Falconer of Thoroton and a seat in the House of Lords for life. He then became the Solicitor General for England and Wales, a top legal advisor to the government. He is the only person known to have held this role while being a peer. Later, he held other important government jobs. These included Minister of State for the Cabinet Office and Minister of State for Housing, Planning and Regeneration. He also served as Minister of State for Criminal Justice.
In 2003, Falconer became the Lord Chancellor and the first Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs. In 2007, this role changed to the first Secretary of State for Justice. He kept this job for a short time until Gordon Brown became Prime Minister. In 2015, he became the Shadow Justice Secretary for the Labour Party. He later served as Shadow Attorney General from 2020 to 2021.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Charles Leslie Falconer was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 19 November 1951. His father, John Leslie Falconer, was a solicitor (another type of lawyer). Charles went to school at the Edinburgh Academy and Trinity College, Glenalmond. He then studied law at Queens' College, Cambridge University.
In the late 1970s, Falconer shared a flat in London with Tony Blair. They were both young barristers at the time. While Blair decided to go into politics, Falconer continued his legal work. He became a senior lawyer, known as a Queen's Counsel, in 1991.
Joining the Government
On 14 May 1997, soon after Tony Blair became Prime Minister, Falconer was made a life peer. This meant he became Baron Falconer of Thoroton and joined the House of Lords. He immediately started working for the government as the Solicitor General for England and Wales. This role involves giving legal advice to the government.
In 1998, Falconer became a Minister of State at the Cabinet Office. He was put in charge of the Millennium Dome project. He was sometimes called "Dome Secretary." The Dome faced some challenges, but Falconer stayed in his role.
After the 2001 election, Falconer moved to the Department for Transport. He became the Minister for Housing, Planning and Regeneration. In 2002, he moved to the Home Office. There, he was responsible for criminal justice and law reform.
Becoming a Cabinet Minister
In 2003, Falconer joined the Cabinet. This is a group of the most important government ministers. He became the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and also the Lord Chancellor. The government planned to change the role of Lord Chancellor. They felt it was no longer right for a cabinet minister to also be a judge and head of the judiciary.
Falconer decided not to use the Lord Chancellor's power to act as a judge. He also stopped wearing the traditional robes and wig. He hoped to be the last person to hold the old title. However, in 2006, he said he was glad the title had been kept. He believed the office still had a role in protecting the independence of the courts.
Freedom of Information Act
As Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, Falconer worked with the Freedom of Information Act (2000). This law allows people to ask for information from public bodies. Falconer suggested changes to make it easier for government bodies to refuse requests. This would happen if finding the information was too expensive or took too much time. However, these changes were not put into law after public discussion.
Later Political Roles
In 2007, Jack Straw replaced Falconer in his government roles. Straw became the first Lord Chancellor who was not a member of the House of Lords.
In 2015, Falconer was named Shadow Secretary of State for Justice. This means he was the main spokesperson for justice matters for the Labour Party while they were not in power. He kept this role under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. However, he resigned in June 2016 along with many other colleagues. In April 2020, he was appointed Shadow Attorney General in Keir Starmer's team. He stepped down from this role in November 2021.
Activities Outside Parliament
After leaving government, Falconer took on other important roles. In 2008, he became the Chairman of AmicusHorizon Group Limited. This is a company that provides affordable housing.
In July 2008, Falconer joined a US law firm called Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher as a senior counsel. He continued to work there for many years. He gave advice to companies.
Personal Life and Family
Charles Falconer married Marianna Catherine Thoroton Hildyard in 1985. She is also a barrister and became a KC in 2002. She is now a judge. Her brother is also a High Court Judge.
Charles and Marianna have four children: Hamish, William "Rocco", Rosie, and Johnny. Their son, Hamish, was elected as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Lincoln in July 2024.
The family owns a house in Islington, London, and a country home in Thoroton, Nottinghamshire. Falconer's father used to live in Thoroton.
Falconer has been involved with several charitable groups. He was chairman of Cambridge University Amnesty International from 2006 to 2007. He is also a director of Sudan Divestment. He chairs the board for Liberty Kitchen, a social enterprise at Pentonville Prison.
Images for kids
-
Official Parliamentary Portrait in May 2018 by Chris McAndrew
