Lord Falconer of Thoroton

Charles Falconer was born in Edinburgh, Scotland on the 19th November 1951. He is a British Labour Party politician and barrister.

Political Career

When Tony Blair was made Prime Minister, Falconer became a life peer receiving the title Baron Falconer of Thoroton in the county of Nottinghamshire. He was the first peer created by Tony Blair. In 1998 he became Minister of State at the Cabinet Office. After the Labour Party won the 2001 General election, Falconer joined the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions as ‘Minister for Housing, Planning and Regeneration’. He then moved to the Home Office in 2002 with the responsibility for criminal justice sentencing and law reform. In 2003 he became a cabinet minister, holding the position ‘Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs’ also becoming Lord Chancellor until the post was abolished. In his role as Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs, Falconer wanted to make it easier for governments to refuse to release information on the grounds that it was too expensive. His last major role in Parliament was as Shadow Spokesperson for Constitutional and deputy Prime ministerial issues, a position he held in 2011. He also served on the Speaker’s Committee on the Electoral Commission.

Education

Lord Falconer began his education at the Edinburgh Academy and Trinity College, Glenalmond. He then went on to study law at Queen’s College, Cambridge. In 2010 he was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Laws by Nottingham Trent University.

External Links

http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-falconer-of-thoroton/2758