Shadow Lord Chancellor

Shadow Lord Chancellor
Incumbent Nick Timothy since 15 January 2026
Appointer	Leader of the Opposition
Inaugural holder	The Lord Elwyn-Jones
Formation	2 October 1983
Website	The Shadow Cabinet

The shadow lord chancellor is a member of the British Shadow Cabinet shadowing the lord chancellor, an office which has existed since the Norman Conquest. Since 2010, the officeholder has jointly held the title Shadow Secretary of State for Justice. The position is currently held by Nick Timothy.

Shadow lord chancellors

Name			Took office	Left office	Political party	Shadow Cabinet
	The Lord Elwyn-Jones		2 October 1983	9 January 1989	Labour	Kinnock
	The Lord Mishcon		9 January 1989	18 July 1992	Labour
	The Lord Irvine of Lairg		18 June 1992	2 May 1997	Labour	Smith Beckett Blair
	The Lord Mackay of Clashfern		2 May 1997	11 June 1997	Conservative	Major
	The Lord Kingsland [n 1]		11 June 1997	12 July 2009	Conservative	Hague Duncan Smith Howard Cameron
	Vacant [n 2]		12 July 2009	11 May 2010
	Jack Straw		11 May 2010	7 October 2010	Labour	Harman I
	Sadiq Khan		8 October 2010	11 May 2015	Labour	Miliband
	The Lord Falconer of Thoroton		11 May 2015	26 June 2016	Labour	Harman II
						Corbyn
	Richard Burgon		27 June 2016	5 April 2020	Labour
	David Lammy		6 April 2020	29 November 2021	Labour	Starmer
	Steve Reed		29 November 2021	4 September 2023	Labour
	Shabana Mahmood		4 September 2023	5 July 2024	Labour
	Edward Argar		8 July 2024	4 November 2024	Conservative	Sunak
	Robert Jenrick		4 November 2024	15 January 2026	Conservative	Badenoch
	Nick Timothy		15 January 2026	Incumbent	Conservative

Notes

1. Kingsland remained Shadow Lord Chancellor after the Government effectively combined the office of Lord Chancellor with the Constitutional Affairs (later Justice) Secretary mid-2003. ^{[1] [2] [3] [4]}
2. The Conservatives did not appoint a Shadow Lord Chancellor after Kingsland's death. ^[5]

References

1. "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 21 May 2005". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 31 May 2005.
2. "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 17 December 2005". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 17 December 2005.
3. "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 6 November 2007". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 10 November 2007.
4. "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 3 November 2008". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 6 December 2008.
5. "Her Majesty's Official Opposition as at 20 November 2009". Weekly Information Bulletin. House of Commons Information Office. 21 November 2009.