Lord Chancellor facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lord Chancellor |
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Arms of Her Majesty's Government
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| Style | The Right Honourable |
| Appointer | The Sovereign on advice of the Prime Minister |
| Inaugural holder | The Lord Cowper |
| Formation | May 1707 of Kingdom of Great Britain |
The Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain, often called the Lord Chancellor, is a very important person in the government of the United Kingdom. This role is one of the oldest and most senior jobs in the country. The Lord Chancellor is chosen by the King or Queen, usually after the Prime Minister suggests them.
Before 1707, when England and Scotland joined together, there were separate Lord Chancellors for each country. After the Acts of Union 1707, these jobs were combined into one for the new country of Great Britain.
For a long time, the Lord Chancellor had to be a member of the House of Lords. They also led the meetings in the House of Lords and were the highest-ranking judge in Britain. However, things changed when Tony Blair was Prime Minister. He tried to get rid of the job, but instead, he changed what the Lord Chancellor does. Now, the person holding this job is usually a member of the House of Commons.
The Lord Chancellor still has important duties. They look after the Great Seal, which is a special stamp used for important government documents. They also make sure that the courts work well and are fair for everyone. The current Lord Chancellor is Robert Buckland.
Contents
History of the Lord Chancellor's Role
Long ago, there were different Chancellors for England, Scotland, and Ireland. Each had similar important jobs in their own country.
Joining the Roles in 1707
When the Kingdom of England and the Kingdom of Scotland joined together in 1707, they formed the United Kingdom of Great Britain. At this time, the jobs of the Chancellor of England and the Lord Chancellor of Scotland were combined. This created a single, powerful role: the Lord Chancellor of Great Britain. This new job was for the new country.
Changes to the Job Over Time
The Lord Chancellor's job has changed a lot throughout history. For many centuries, the person in this role was a top judge and a key part of the government. They were also the leader of the House of Lords.
However, in recent times, some of these duties have been given to other people. This happened to make sure that the different parts of government (like the courts and the politicians) are kept separate and fair. Even with these changes, the Lord Chancellor remains a very important figure in the UK government.
Images for kids
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The Viscount Hailsham wearing the uniform of the Lord High Chancellor, depicted on a cigarette card produced for the Coronation of King George VI and Queen Elizabeth in 1937
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Heraldic banner of Cardinal Thomas Wolsey, who was the archbishop of York and lord chancellor, showing the arms of the See of York impaling his personal arms, with a cardinal's hat above. The griffin supporter holds the lord chancellor's mace
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Jack Straw was the first commoner to be appointed as Lord Chancellor since 1587.
See also
In Spanish: Lord canciller para niños
