New Solicitor General sworn in
Michael Ellis QC MP appointed as Solicitor General for England and Wales.
Attorney General Geoffrey Cox with new Solicitor General Michael Ellis
Michael Ellis QC MP has been sworn in as Solicitor General for England and Wales.
The Attorney General, Geoffrey Cox QC MP, and the Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Robert Buckland QC MP, spoke at the ceremony to welcome the Solicitor General to his role.
Speaking after the ceremony the Attorney General said:
“I warmly welcome Michael Ellis to his role as Solicitor General for England and Wales. I look forward to working with him as a Law Officer in upholding the rule of law at the heart of Government decision making and in our independent public interest roles.”
Lord Chancellor, Robert Buckland QC MP, said:
“Michael’s extensive experience as a barrister makes this an eminently sensible appointment. I have no doubt he will approach the role of Solicitor General with the rigour and scrutiny required and I look forward to working with him in due course.”
Commenting on the ceremony, Michael Ellis QC MP said:
“It is an honour to be sworn in as Solicitor General for England and Wales and I thank everyone for the warm welcome they have given me since my appointment.
It is a great privilege to be appointed as a Law Officer of the Crown and I look forward to working with the Attorney General to play my part in making law and politics work together at the heart of Government decision making.”
Alongside the Attorney General, the Solicitor General will oversee the work of the Law Officers Departments which include the Crown Prosecution Service and Serious Fraud Office, and the Government Legal Department and HM Crown Prosecution Service Inspectorate.
The Solicitor General also carries out a number of functions in the public interest, such as considering unduly lenient sentences, and taking action when there has been a contempt of court. These functions are carried out independently of their role as a government minister.