Robert Buckland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Robert Buckland
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Official portrait, 2022
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| Chair of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee | |
| In office 28 November 2023 – 30 May 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Simon Hoare |
| Succeeded by | Tonia Antoniazzi |
| Secretary of State for Wales | |
| In office 7 July 2022 – 25 October 2022 |
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| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson Liz Truss |
| Preceded by | Simon Hart |
| Succeeded by | David T. C. Davies |
| Secretary of State for Justice Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain |
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| In office 24 July 2019 – 15 September 2021 |
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| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Boris Johnson |
| Preceded by | David Gauke |
| Succeeded by | Dominic Raab |
| Minister of State for Prisons and Probation | |
| In office 9 May 2019 – 24 July 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | Theresa May |
| Preceded by | Rory Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Lucy Frazer |
| Solicitor General for England and Wales | |
| In office 15 July 2014 – 9 May 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron Theresa May |
| Preceded by | Oliver Heald |
| Succeeded by | Lucy Frazer |
| Member of Parliament for South Swindon |
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| In office 6 May 2010 – 30 May 2024 |
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| Preceded by | Anne Snelgrove |
| Succeeded by | Heidi Alexander |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Robert James Buckland
22 September 1968 Llanelli, Wales |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Children | 2 |
| Residences | Wroughton, Wiltshire, England |
| Education | St Michael's School, Llanelli |
| Alma mater | Inns of Court School of Law Hatfield College, Durham (LLB) |
| Profession | Barrister, recorder |
Sir Robert James Buckland (born 22 September 1968) is a British politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for South Swindon from 2010 to 2024. He belongs to the Conservative Party.
Sir Robert has held several important roles in the government. He was the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from 2019 to 2021. He also served as Secretary of State for Wales in 2022.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Robert Buckland was born in Llanelli, Wales, on 22 September 1968. He went to Old Road County Primary School and then St Michael's School, Llanelli.
He later studied Law at Hatfield College, which is part of the University of Durham. He finished his degree in 1990. The next year, he became a "barrister." A barrister is a type of lawyer who represents people in court.
From 1992 to 2010, Robert worked as a barrister in Wales. He focused on criminal law cases. In 2009, he became a "recorder," which means he worked part-time as a judge in the Crown Court.
Early Steps in Politics
Before becoming an MP, Robert Buckland tried to get elected to different political roles. In 1993, he won a local election for the Elli ward on Dyfed County Council. This was a big win for his party in that area.
He also ran for a seat in the European Parliament in 1994 and 1999. He tried to become an MP for different areas in the 1995 by-election and the 1997 general election. In 2005, he ran for the South Swindon seat, which he would later win.
Parliamentary Career
First Term as an MP (2010–2015)
Robert Buckland was first elected as the MP for South Swindon in the 2010 general election. He won with a majority of 3,544 votes.
In 2010, he joined the Justice Select Committee. This committee looks closely at how the justice system works. In 2014, he became the Solicitor General for England and Wales. This is a senior legal role in the government.
During this time, there was a minor issue from 2011 about how he handled some documents. However, it was considered a small matter and did not affect his new role. He also had an investment that was looked at by tax authorities. He stated he had not tried to avoid tax and his investments were public.
Continuing as an MP (2015–2019)
Robert Buckland was re-elected as MP for South Swindon in the 2015 general election. He increased his number of votes.
In 2016, there was a vote in Parliament about making sure rented homes were safe to live in. Robert Buckland, like many other MPs, voted against a change that would have made this a new law. He also earned money from renting out property himself.
He was re-elected again in the 2017 general election. In May 2019, he became the Minister of State for Prisons and Probation. This role involves looking after prisons and helping people after they leave prison.
Becoming Justice Secretary (2019–2021)
On 24 July 2019, Robert Buckland was given a very important job. He became the Secretary of State for Justice and the Lord Chancellor. These roles mean he was in charge of the justice system in the UK.
He said he had a lot of experience for the job and wanted to make big changes. Soon after, he talked about whether people accused of serious crimes should be kept anonymous. This idea was not supported by the government.
During his time as Justice Secretary, he was re-elected as an MP in the 2019 general election. He also oversaw how UK prisons managed the COVID-19 pandemic. Prisons kept infection rates low, but prisoners spent more time in their cells.
In September 2021, he left his role as Justice Secretary when the Prime Minister changed his team.
Secretary of State for Wales (2022)
On 7 July 2022, Robert Buckland returned to the government. He became the Secretary of State for Wales. This role means he was the main link between the UK government and Wales.
He continued in this role when Liz Truss became Prime Minister. He played a part in the events after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. He attended important meetings for the new King, King Charles III.
In October 2022, he stepped down from the government when Rishi Sunak became the new Prime Minister.
Return to the Backbenches
After leaving his government roles, Robert Buckland returned to being a regular MP. This is called being on the "backbenches."
In 2023, he was asked to lead a review for the government. This review looked at how to help autistic people find more job opportunities. In November 2023, he was elected to chair the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee.
Robert Buckland lost his seat in the 2024 general election.
Personal Life
Robert Buckland is married to Sian. They met at university and have twins born in 2002. They live in Wroughton, England.
He enjoys music, wine, political history, and watching rugby and cricket. He has a cat named "Mrs Landingham."
In 2013, he received an award for his work helping children with special educational needs. This included children with autism. In 2022, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) by King Charles III.
Images for kids
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Robert Buckland's official portrait from 2017.
See also
In Spanish: Robert Buckland para niños
