Charles Falconer, Lord Falconer di Thoroton, in pieno Charles Leslie Falconer, (nato il 19 novembre 1951, Edimburgo, Scozia), politico britannico il cui mandato di Lord Lord Cancelliere (2003-2007) fu segnato dalla riforma del sistema legale del Regno Unito.
Quiz
English Men of Distinction: Fact or Fiction?
Enrico VIII aveva 10 mogli.
Falconer ha studiato al Trinity College, Glenalmond (ora Glenalmond College), in Scozia, e ha studiato legge all'Università di Cambridge, Queen's College. Da ragazzo conobbe Tony Blair (futuro primo ministro del Regno Unito) e negli anni '60 i due gareggiarono persino per uscire con la stessa giovane donna. Nel 1976 erano entrambi giovani avvocati che lavoravano nello stesso edificio. Blair si trasferì nell'appartamento di Falconer nel sud di Londra per un certo periodo ed entrambi si attivarono nella stessa filiale locale del Partito Laburista.
Negli anni '80, dopo che Blair era entrato in politica, Falconer ha continuato a perseguire una carriera legale di successo, specializzandosi in diritto commerciale. I due rimasero vicini; comprarono case vicine a Islington, nel nord di Londra, e spesso cenarono insieme. Nel 1991, all'età insolitamente giovane di 40 anni, Falconer è stato nominato Queen's Counsel (la designazione ufficiale di alti avvocati). Prima delle elezioni generali del 1997 (con un governo laburista quasi certo dopo 18 anni di opposizione), ha cercato di candidarsi per il Parlamento, ma è stato respinto perché ha mandato i suoi figli in scuole private paganti, qualcosa che attiva il lavoro locale Membri del partito deplorati in modo schiacciante.
Following Labour’s return to power in that election, Blair arranged for a life peerage for his old friend and appointed him solicitor general. In 1998 Falconer was moved to the Cabinet Office, where he came to public attention as the minister responsible for the controversial Millennium Dome. He defended a project that many considered indefensible with good humour, a stance that evoked admiration and criticism in equal measure. After brief terms as housing minister (2001) and minister for criminal justice (2002–03), on June 12, 2003, Falconer was named to the post of lord chancellor. On the same day, Blair announced the abolition of that position (first created in 605) and its replacement by the role of secretary of state for constitutional affairs. Falconer, as the 259th and last lord chancellor, as well as the first constitutional affairs secretary, was given the task of introducing the legislation for the change. Within Parliament and the legal profession, there was widespread support in principle for reform. New measures would finally separate politics and the judiciary and end the ability of a government minister to appoint senior judges. Blair’s appointment of his friend badly weakened the impact of a reform designed to curb patronage, but Falconer himself attracted little criticism—his skills, integrity, and easygoing style were admired across the political spectrum.
The reforms overseen by Falconer included the creation of a new supreme court. Although he ultimately failed to abolish the position of the lord chancellor, it was redefined by constitutional reform in 2006: the lord chief justice took over many of the judicial aspects of the role, and the lord chancellor was no longer to serve as speaker of the House of Lords. Falconer also dealt with interpretation of the Human Rights Act in regard to treatment of those suspected of terrorist activities—a controversial issue in the wake of the 2005 bombings of London’s Underground train system.
In May 2007, after the short-lived post of constitutional affairs secretary was abolished, Falconer became secretary of state for justice. A month later, after Gordon Brown became prime minister, Falconer was replaced by Jack Straw. Falconer took a position with a private American firm, wrote articles, and frequently appeared as a radio commentator. He also became chair of the John Smith Memorial Trust, honouring the late Labour Party leader. During Conservative David Cameron’s tenure as prime minister, Falconer served as shadow spokesman for justice (2010–15), shadow spokesman for constitutional and deputy priministerial issues (2011–15), and shadow lord chancellor and shadow secretary of state for justice (2015–16).
