Robert Buckland facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sir Robert Buckland
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Official portrait, 2022
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| Third Church Estates Commissioner | |
| Assumed office 14 March 2025 |
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| Preceded by | Flora Winfield |
| 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 |
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| In office 24 July 2019 – 15 September 2021 |
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| 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 served in several important government roles, including Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice from 2019 to 2021. He was also the Secretary of State for Wales in 2022.
As a member of the Conservative Party, he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for South Swindon from 2010 until 2024. An MP is a person elected to represent their local area in the House of Commons.
Before becoming a politician, Buckland worked as a barrister (a type of lawyer) and a part-time judge. After his time in Parliament, he was appointed to a senior role in the Church of England called the Third Church Estates Commissioner.
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Early Life and Education
Robert Buckland was born in Llanelli, Wales. He went to Old Road County Primary School and later St Michael's School in Llanelli.
In 1990, he earned a degree in law from Hatfield College at the University of Durham. While at university, he was active in student groups. He became a barrister in 1991, which meant he was qualified to argue cases in court.
For almost 20 years, from 1992 to 2010, Buckland worked as a barrister in Wales. He specialized in criminal law. In 2009, he also became a recorder, which is a part-time judge in the Crown Court.
Political Career Beginnings
Buckland's interest in politics started long before he became an MP. In 1993, he was elected to the Dyfed County Council for the Conservative Party. He won by only three votes.
Over the next several years, he ran in different elections. He was a candidate for the European Parliament in 1994 and 1999. He also ran for a seat in the UK Parliament in 1997 and 2005 but was not elected on those occasions.
Serving as a Member of Parliament
First Years in Parliament (2010–2015)
In the 2010 general election, Buckland was elected as the MP for South Swindon. This was the start of his career in the UK Parliament.
As a new MP, he joined the Justice Select Committee, a group that examines the justice system. He also became known for his work on human rights and for helping children with special educational needs, like autism.
In 2014, Prime Minister David Cameron appointed Buckland as the Solicitor General for England and Wales. The Solicitor General is one of the government's top lawyers.
Working in Government (2015–2019)
Buckland was re-elected as MP for South Swindon in the 2015 election. He continued to serve as Solicitor General under Prime Minister Theresa May.
In May 2019, he was given a new job as the Minister of State for Prisons and Probation. In this role, he was responsible for overseeing prisons in the country.
What is a Secretary of State?
A Secretary of State is a very senior minister in the UK government. They are in charge of a major government department, like the Ministry of Justice or the Wales Office. They are part of the Cabinet, which is the team of top ministers who make important decisions for the country.
Justice Secretary and Lord Chancellor
In July 2019, the new Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, made Buckland the Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor. This is one of the most important legal jobs in the government. As Justice Secretary, he was in charge of courts, prisons, and the probation service in England and Wales.
During his time in this role, he announced plans to make sure that people who commit serious crimes serve more of their sentences in prison. He was re-elected again as MP for South Swindon in the 2019 general election. He left the role of Justice Secretary in September 2021.
Secretary of State for Wales
In July 2022, Buckland returned to the Cabinet as the Secretary of State for Wales. His job was to represent Welsh interests in the UK government. He continued in this role when Liz Truss became Prime Minister.
As Welsh Secretary, he took part in the official events after the death of Queen Elizabeth II. This included the ceremony where King Charles III was officially proclaimed the new monarch.
Return to the Backbenches
When Rishi Sunak became Prime Minister in October 2022, Buckland decided to step down from his government role. He returned to being a "backbencher." A backbencher is an MP who is not a government minister, allowing them to focus more on representing their local area and speaking on issues they care about.
In 2023, he was elected as the chairman of the Northern Ireland Affairs Select Committee. This committee checks the work of the government on issues related to Northern Ireland.
Buckland lost his seat as an MP in the 2024 general election.
Life After Parliament
In February 2025, it was announced that Buckland would become the Third Church Estates Commissioner. This is a senior position in the Church of England. In this role, he helps manage the Church's property and other important matters. He started the job on 14 March 2025.
Personal Life
Buckland is married to Sian, and they have twin children who were born in 2002. The family lives in Wroughton, a village in his former constituency.
His hobbies include music, wine, and political history. He also enjoys watching rugby and cricket. He has a cat named "Mrs Landingham" after a character from the TV show The West Wing.
In 2022, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) for his political and public service. This is why he is called "Sir" Robert Buckland. He is also a Christian and was made an honorary lay canon of Bristol Cathedral in 2024.
See also
In Spanish: Robert Buckland para niños
