Two Jews, three (legal) opinions? Lord Wolfson appointed as shadow attorney general

Lord Wolfson KC has been appointed as shadow attorney general by Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch as she unveiled more of her shadow ministers.

Wolfson, a commercial barrister at One Essex Court, told the JC he was “honoured” to be appointed and “to advise the shadow cabinet on legal issues and to hold the government to account.”

The congregant at Hampstead Garden Suburb Synagogue continued: “Justice and law are central to my life, and to the life of the nation. The Psalmist writes that ‘Justice and law are the foundation of God’s throne’ and they are also the foundation of any civilised society.”

Born in Liverpool and educated at King David High School, Wolfson served as justice minister in Boris Johnson’s government before resigning over the Partygate scandal.

His appointment means that both the attorney general, Lord Hermer and his shadow are Jewish.

 Lord Hermer KC told the JC he welcomed his “friend Lord Wolfson to his post” and added that he looked “forward to our debates in the House of Lords.”

He continued: “I know he is a highly experienced and excellent legal mind and I know he will agree there are a number of shared priorities that should unite our parties, such as promoting and upholding the rule of law."

Hermer is one of two Jewish members of the cabinet, the other being Energy and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband.

Other Jewish frontbenchers include Solicitor General Sarah Sackman, Cabinet Office Minister Georgia Gould, Health Minister Gillian Merron and House of Lords whip Baroness Anderson.

Kemi Badenoch’s shadow ministerial appointments yesterday follow on from her unveiling of her new shadow cabinet on Tuesday.

Her new top team include Dame Priti Patel, who was home secretary under Boris Johnson, Robert Jenrick, who Badenoch defeated for the leadership of the Conservative Party, will serve as her shadow justice secretary and Chris Philp, the former policing minister, is the new shadow home secretary.

Badenoch told the press that her new top team “draws on the talents of people from across the Conservative Party, based on meritocracy and with a breadth of experience and perspective, just as I promised during the campaign.”

She added, “Our party’s problems will only be solved with a team effort, and I am confident my shadow cabinet ministers will deliver effective opposition as we seek to win back the trust of the public” and promised they would “get to work holding Labour to account”.