Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/46/Charles_Falconer%2C_Baron_Falconer_of_Thoroton%2C_May_2009.jpg/220px-Charles_Falconer%2C_Baron_Falconer_of_Thoroton%2C_May_2009.jpg)
The office of Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs was a British Government position, created in 2003. Certain functions of the Lord Chancellor which related to the Lord Chancellor's Department were transferred to the Secretary of State. At a later date further functions were also transferred to the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs from the First Secretary of State, a position within the government held by the Deputy Prime Minister.
The only holder of the post was Lord Falconer who also simultaneously continued to serve as Lord Chancellor. Certain functions, linked by statute with the office of Lord Chancellor, were not transferred to the new office of Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs.
The post was formally created through the approval, by way of the Order-in-Council procedure, of the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs Order 2003 (SI 2003 No. 1887). The office was discontinued on 9 May 2007, and all of its responsibilities were transferred to the new post of Secretary of State for Justice, the first holder of which was also Lord Falconer.
Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs
Name | Portrait | Term of office | Political party | Prime Minister | Notes | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | | The Rt. Hon. The Lord Falconer of Thoroton PC, QC |
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12 June 2003 | 8 May 2007 | Labour | style="background-color: Template:Labour Party (UK)/meta/color" | | Tony Blair | Also held the office and title of Lord Chancellor; subsequently the first Secretary of State for Justice. |