Charles Falconer, Lord Falconer of Thoroton, in full Charles Leslie Falconer, (né le 19 novembre 1951, Édimbourg, Écosse), homme politique britannique dont le mandat de lord chancelier (2003-2007) a été marqué par la réforme du système juridique du Royaume-Uni.
Quiz
Hommes de distinction anglais: réalité ou fiction?
Henri VIII avait 10 femmes.
Falconer a fait ses études au Trinity College de Glenalmond (aujourd'hui Glenalmond College) en Écosse et a étudié le droit à l'Université de Cambridge, Queen's College. Enfant, il a fait la connaissance de Tony Blair (futur Premier ministre du Royaume-Uni), et dans les années 1960, les deux ont même concouru pour sortir avec la même jeune femme. En 1976, ils étaient tous les deux de jeunes avocats travaillant dans le même bâtiment. Blair a emménagé dans l'appartement de Falconer dans le sud de Londres pendant un certain temps, et les deux sont devenus actifs dans la même branche locale du Parti travailliste.
Dans les années 1980, après que Blair est entré en politique, Falconer a continué à poursuivre une carrière juridique réussie, spécialisée dans le droit commercial. Les deux sont restés proches; ils achetaient des maisons les uns à côté des autres à Islington dans le nord de Londres et dînaient souvent ensemble. En 1991, à l'âge inhabituellement jeune de 40 ans, Falconer a été nommé conseil de la reine (désignation officielle des avocats principaux). Avant les élections générales de 1997 (avec un gouvernement travailliste presque sûr après 18 ans d'opposition), il a cherché à se présenter au Parlement, mais il a été refusé parce qu'il a envoyé ses enfants dans des écoles privées payantes - quelque chose qui active le Labour local Les membres du parti ont déploré massivement.
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).
