LONDON — Dominic Raab has just resigned as U.K. justice secretary — and deputy prime minister — after a long-running inquiry into a string of claims that he bullied staff. So who could replace him in the crucial job overseeing the U.K.’s judicial system? POLITICO’s London Playbook ran through the contenders.
Victoria Atkins, 47
Cuurrently, financial secretary to the Treasury, Atkins is said to be well-liked in No. 10 Downing Street. She prosecuted drug trafficking gangs as a barrister. She isn’t on Twitter. And she was once accused of being terribly rude about Boris Johnson’s wife, Carrie.
Victoria Prentis, 52
The current attorney general is hailed by one Cabinet colleague as a “proper lawyer.” She hates the High Speed 2 rail line controversial with many Conservative backbenchers. She endorsed centrist Rory Stewart for Tory leader back in 2019. Prentis also organizes nativity services with an actual donkey.
Lucy Frazer, 50
The culture secretary is the third of three female lawyers tipped by the Times newspaper. She outlawed taking secret “upskirt” photos via a Private Member’s Bill. Prentis faced a tricky selection as a Tory candidate in 2014 — and once made a “slaves to the colonies” joke which … didn’t age well.
Alex Chalk, 46
The defense minister was briefly William Hague’s speechwriter when he was Conservative leader. He faced down street protesters during the U.K.’s Brexit wars. His Wikipedia article has an interesting disclaimer (“A major contributor to this article appears to have a close connection with its subject”), while his own website says he is a “rising star.” His electoral majority in Cheltenham is only 981.
Robert Buckland, 54
The ex-justice secretary (or his successor Brandon Lewis) have both been tipped for a return by some — but neither are named as likely. He said to be liked in the Ministry of Justice. He switched his support from Rishi Sunak to Liz Truss mid-contest last year. Buckland told the press he had had a “disagreement” with Raab in office.
Edward Argar, 45
Both Argar and Damian Hinds are justice ministers of state but are not widely tipped at this stage. Argar is a morning media round survivor from the tricky coronavirus era.
Robert Jenrick, 41
The current immigration minister (sacked from Boris Johnson’s Cabinet but back in action at the Home Office under Sunak) is the banter choice. Why shouldn’t the U.K. have a lord chancellor whom the courts banned from driving?
