New attorney general Suella Braverman vows to 'restore confidence' in justice system

The Fareham MP took on the role of the government’s top legal adviser during a ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice, in London.

Speaking after the event, the 39-year-old mother of one insisted she would take a firm stance on crime.

She added: ‘It is a privilege to be sworn in as attorney general and a moment I will cherish as the second woman to be appointed to this historic role.

‘Restoring confidence in the criminal justice system is my top priority. I want to thank my predecessor for his work in this area and his distinguished service to government.’

Robert Buckland QC, the lord chancellor, joined the lord chief justice Lord Burnett of Maldon and the chairman of the Bar council, Amanda Pinto QC, in welcoming Ms Braverman to the post.

Speaking of Ms Braverman, the lord chancellor said: ‘I am delighted to welcome the new attorney general to this vital and historic role.

‘The relationship between the law officers and the lord chancellor is a crucial one.

‘I look forward to working closely with the attorney on matters relating to the rule of law, which is the cornerstone of our democracy and a major factor in our success as a civilised and prosperous nation.’

Ms Braverman was announced as the new attorney general during the prime minister’s cabinet shake-up earlier this month.

As the Downing Street’s chief legal adviser, she will advise the government and attend cabinet meetings.

She will also oversee the work of the Law Officers’ Departments which include the independent prosecuting authorities, the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office, and the Government Legal Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.

She is the first female attorney general appointed by a Conservative government. The last and only previous woman to hold the post was Baroness Scotland.

Ms Braverman was educated at Heathfield School in London and went on to study law at Queen’s College, Cambridge. She gained a masters in Law from the University of Paris.

she was called to the Bar in 2005, having specialised in public law and judicial review.

From 2010-2015 she was on the attorney general’s panel of treasury counsel and has defended the Home Office in immigration cases.

She was elected as Fareham MP in 2015 and was a Brexit minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union between January and November 2018, when she resigned from the role.