Charlie Falconer
 Lord Falconer     (lawyer, politician) | ||||||||||||||
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| Born | Charles Leslie Falconer 19 November 1951 | |||||||||||||
In 2021 as Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales, described the Covid-19 pandemic as a "gift that keeps on giving"
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Charlie Falconer, Baron Falconer of Thoroton is a British Labour peer and barrister. In February 2021 he described the Covid-19 pandemic as a "gift that keeps on giving".[2]
Falconer became the Lord Chancellor and the first Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs in 2003 under Prime Minister Tony Blair, and would go on to become the first Secretary of State for Justice in a 2007 reorganisation and enlargement of the portfolio of the Department for Constitutional Affairs. He held this role for over a month until Gordon Brown became Prime Minister in June 2007. Falconer was replaced by Jack Straw.
Lord Falconer was named Shadow Justice Secretary under the acting leadership of Harriet Harman, and continued in this role after the election of Jeremy Corbyn as leader of the party, until, along with dozens of his colleagues, he resigned on 26 June 2016.[3][4]
On 6 April 2020, Lord Falconer was appointed Shadow Attorney General for England and Wales by newly elected Labour leader Keir Starmer. He left the post on 29 November 2021.
Contents
Antisemitism Surveillance Commissioner
On 26 February 2019, Lord Levy addressed claims he recommended to Jeremy Corbyn he appoint Tony Blair’s old flatmate to try and get to grips with the raft of allegations of antisemitism in the party.
Speaking to the Jewish Chronicle as he left the weekly meeting of Labour MPs in Westminster – which he attended along with the Labour leader and other senior party figures – the Jewish Labour Peer claimed he was “amazed” that Lord Falconer, who was Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary from 2003 to 2007, had agreed to do it. Lord Levy said:
- "Is Charlie, (Lord Falconer) a bright man? Yes.
- "But as someone sitting behind me just said, 'he's being a useful idiot.' Someone rather important in the party said that, not me.
- "I just don't know, I'm amazed he's doing it, I really am.”
Under the plan being considered in Mr Corbyn’s office, Lord Falconer will be appointed as the party’s Antisemitism Surveillance Commissioner, with full oversight of how Labour handles complaints.
- “There's a lot of criticism he's doing it but I don't know the answer,” said Lord Levy. “Undoubtedly, Charlie will call and speak to me, I will have a better judgement when he does. I've known Charlie since I really got involved at a top level - 28 years ago."[5]
Meeting to agree terms
On 2 March 2019, Lord Falconer tweeted:
- "Meeting with Labour Party next week to agree terms on my independent antisemitism role. Undertaking the role subject to agreement being reached."[6]
Related Document
| Title | Type | Publication date | Author(s) | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Document:We condemn the suspension of Jo Bird and the appointment of Lord Falconer | Article | 4 March 2019 | Admin | As Ken Loach said: “If it looks like a witch hunt and behaves like a witch hunt – it may well be just that. This is intolerable and must end now.” |
References
- ↑ "Question Time audience shouts in protest as Lord Falconer defends Tony Blair over the Iraq War"
- ↑ https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9232085/Covid-gift-keeps-giving-says-ally-Sir-Keir-Starmer.html
- ↑ "Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying"
- ↑ "Shadow cabinet resignations: who has gone and who is staying"
- ↑ "Lord Levy: I'm amazed Lord Falconer has agreed to tackle Labour's antisemitism crisis"
- ↑ "Meetings with Labour Party next week to agree terms on my independent antisemitism role"
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