Dominic Grieve facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Dominic Grieve
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Official portrait, 2017
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| Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| In office 15 September 2015 – 6 November 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Sir Malcolm Rifkind | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Julian Lewis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Attorney General for England and Wales Advocate General for Northern Ireland |
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| In office 12 May 2010 – 15 July 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Preceded by | The Baroness Scotland of Asthal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Jeremy Wright | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Member of Parliament for Beaconsfield |
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| In office 1 May 1997 – 6 November 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Tim Smith | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Succeeded by | Joy Morrissey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | 24 May 1956 Lambeth, London, England |
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| Political party | Independent (2019–) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Other political affiliations |
Conservative (until 2019) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Spouse |
Caroline Hutton
(m. 1990) |
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| Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Education | Westminster School | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alma mater | Magdalen College, Oxford, University of Westminster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Dominic Grieve (born 24 May 1956) is a British lawyer and former politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for Beaconsfield from 1997 to 2019.
He served as the main legal advisor to the government, called the Attorney General for England and Wales, from 2010 to 2014. Before that, he was a spokesperson for the opposition as Shadow Home Secretary from 2008 to 2009. He also led the Intelligence and Security Committee of Parliament, which oversees spy agencies, from 2015 to 2019.
Dominic Grieve was first elected as a member of the Conservative Party. However, he was later removed from the party in 2019. This happened because he disagreed with the government's plans for Brexit, which was the UK leaving the European Union. He then ran as an independent candidate but did not win his seat in the 2019 election.
Grieve is known for his strong views on Brexit. He often used his legal knowledge to suggest changes to Brexit plans. He believed the UK should remain in the European Union. He even said he would support actions to stop a "bad Brexit" deal. He is also the president of the Franco-British Society and has received an award from France, the Legion of Honour.
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Early Life and Education
Dominic Grieve was born in Lambeth, London. His father, Percy Grieve, was also a Member of Parliament. His mother was Anglo-French.
He went to several schools, including the Lycée Français Charles de Gaulle and Westminster School. He then studied history at Magdalen College, Oxford. In 1977, he was the president of the Oxford University Conservative Association.
After Oxford, he studied law at the Polytechnic of Central London. He finished his law studies in 1979.
Legal Career
In 1980, Dominic Grieve became a barrister, which is a type of lawyer who represents people in court. He specialized in laws about safety and health at work.
Political Journey
Starting in Local Politics
Dominic Grieve began his political career in local government. He was elected as a local councillor in London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham in 1982. He served for four years.
In 1987, he tried to become an MP for the Norwood area but did not win.
Becoming a Member of Parliament
Dominic Grieve was first elected as an MP for Beaconsfield in 1997. He won by a large number of votes. He continued to be the MP for Beaconsfield until 2019.
He joined different committees in Parliament, focusing on environmental issues and legal rules. In 1999, he became a spokesperson for the Conservative Party on Scottish affairs. Later, he became a spokesperson on home affairs and then the Shadow Attorney General in 2003. This meant he was the main legal spokesperson for the opposition party.
In 2008, he became the Shadow Home Secretary. This role meant he was the main opposition spokesperson on matters of policing and national security. In 2009, he moved to become Shadow Justice Secretary.
After the 2010 general election, Grieve was appointed as the Attorney General for England and Wales. This is the government's chief legal adviser. He was part of the government's top team, the Cabinet.
In 2014, Prime Minister David Cameron removed Grieve from his role as Attorney General. Grieve believed this was because of his support for the European Court of Human Rights.
Leaving the Conservative Party
In September 2019, Dominic Grieve was one of 21 Conservative MPs who voted against the government's plans for Brexit. Because of this vote, he and the other MPs were removed from the Conservative Party. This meant they had to sit in Parliament as independent MPs.
Grieve decided to run for re-election in 2019 as an independent candidate. The Liberal Democrats party agreed not to run a candidate against him to help his chances. However, he lost his seat to the Conservative candidate, Joy Morrissey.
Views on Brexit
Dominic Grieve was against the UK leaving the European Union (Brexit) before the 2016 vote. After the public voted to leave, he said he would respect the decision.
However, he often tried to change the government's Brexit plans through new laws. He wanted Parliament to have a "meaningful vote" on any Brexit deal. This meant Parliament's vote would have a real, binding effect on the government's actions.
He also supported the idea of a "final say" for the public on the Brexit deal. He believed that leaving the EU without a deal would be very damaging. He even said he would support bringing down a Conservative government if it was the only way to stop a "catastrophic" no-deal Brexit.
His actions caused some disagreement within his local Conservative Party. In 2019, members of his local party voted against him, starting a process that could have led to him not being chosen as their candidate again.
Personal Life
Dominic Grieve is a practicing Anglican, which means he is a member of the Church of England. He was part of the church's local council for six years.
He married Caroline Hutton, who is also a lawyer, in 1990. They have two sons.
His hobbies include canoeing, boating on the River Thames, mountain climbing, skiing, and fell walking. He also enjoys architecture, art, and travel. He has volunteered at a food bank and supports Prisoners Abroad, a charity that helps British citizens in foreign prisons.
Awards and Recognition
Dominic Grieve has received several honours for his work.
UK Honours
- 9 June 2010: He became a member of His Majesty's Most Honourable Privy Council, which is a group of senior advisors to the King. This gave him the title "The Right Honourable".
- 28 March 2008: He was appointed Queen's Counsel (now King's Counsel), a special title for experienced lawyers.
Foreign Honours
- 2016: He was awarded the Legion of Honour by France. This is a very high award given by the French government.
Academic Roles
Dominic Grieve has also held roles in universities:
- 3 June 2020 – Present: He became a Visiting Professor at Goldsmiths, University of London.
Honorary Degrees
He has received honorary degrees from universities:
- August 2021: He received a Doctor of Letters from the University of Westminster.
- 26 July 2022: He received an Honorary Doctorate from Kingston University.
Images for kids
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Dominic Grieve speaking in the House of Commons
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Dominic Grieve in 2007
