Shadow Lord Chancellor

Shadow Lord Chancellor
Incumbent
Nick Timothy
since 15 January 2026
AppointerLeader of the Opposition
Inaugural holderThe Lord Elwyn-Jones
Formation2 October 1983
WebsiteThe Shadow Cabinet

The shadow lord chancellor is a member of the British Shadow Cabinet shadowing the lord chancellor, an office which has existed since the Norman Conquest. Since 2010, the officeholder has jointly held the title Shadow Secretary of State for Justice. The position is currently held by Nick Timothy.

Shadow lord chancellors

Name Took office Left office Political party Shadow Cabinet
The Lord Elwyn-Jones 2 October 1983 9 January 1989 Labour Kinnock
The Lord Mishcon 9 January 1989 18 July 1992 Labour
The Lord Irvine of Lairg 18 June 1992 2 May 1997 Labour Smith
Beckett
Blair
The Lord Mackay of Clashfern 2 May 1997 11 June 1997 Conservative Major
The Lord Kingsland[n 1] 11 June 1997 12 July 2009 Conservative Hague
Duncan Smith
Howard
Cameron
Vacant[n 2] 12 July 2009 11 May 2010
Jack Straw 11 May 2010 7 October 2010 Labour Harman I
Sadiq Khan 8 October 2010 11 May 2015 Labour Miliband
The Lord Falconer of Thoroton 11 May 2015 26 June 2016 Labour Harman II
Corbyn
Richard Burgon 27 June 2016 5 April 2020 Labour
David Lammy 6 April 2020 29 November 2021 Labour Starmer
Steve Reed 29 November 2021 4 September 2023 Labour
Shabana Mahmood 4 September 2023 5 July 2024 Labour
Edward Argar 8 July 2024 4 November 2024 Conservative Sunak
Robert Jenrick 4 November 2024 15 January 2026 Conservative Badenoch
Nick Timothy 15 January 2026 Incumbent Conservative

Notes

  1. ^ Kingsland remained Shadow Lord Chancellor after the Government effectively combined the office of Lord Chancellor with the Constitutional Affairs (later Justice) Secretary mid-2003.[1][2][3][4]
  2. ^ The Conservatives did not appoint a Shadow Lord Chancellor after Kingsland's death.[5]

References

  1. ^ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 21 May 2005". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 31 May 2005.
  2. ^ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 17 December 2005". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 17 December 2005.
  3. ^ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 6 November 2007". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 10 November 2007.
  4. ^ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 3 November 2008". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 6 December 2008.
  5. ^ "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 20 November 2009". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 21 November 2009.