New Ministerial Team at the Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice has recently seen a reshuffle following the Labour’s general election victory. There has been an appointment of a new ministerial team committed to tackling the nation’s pressing legal and justice issues.

Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice: Shabana Mahmood

Shabana Mahmood, MP for Birmingham, Ladywood, has been appointed as the new Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice. Mahmood has held various roles in Parliament since her election in 2010. Her legal background and extensive experience in public service positions her well to lead the Ministry of Justice in its mission to deliver a world-class justice system that works for everyone in society.

Minister of State: Lord Timpson OBE

Lord Timpson OBE brings a wealth of experience from his previous roles and his work in the private and third sectors. Timpson, who has been an advocate for prison reform and rehabilitation, is expected to play a pivotal role in addressing the prison capacity crisis.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: Alex Davies-Jones

Alex Davies-Jones, Labour MP for Pontypridd, has been appointed as the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State. Davies-Jones has a notable track record in advocating for domestic violence prevention and safeguarding, having served as Shadow Minister for Domestic Violence and Safeguarding.

Parliamentary Under Secretary of State: Florence Eshalomi

Florence Eshalomi, MP for Vauxhall and Camberwell Green is another key member of the new ministerial team. Eshalomi has a strong background in public service having served as both Shadow Minister for Levelling Up, Housing, Communities and Local Government and the Cabinet Office.

Focus Areas and Future Directions

With this new team at the helm, the Ministry of Justice is set to focus on several critical areas:

Prison Capacity and Reform: Addressing the overcrowding in prisons is a top priority. The team is exploring measures to increase capacity and improve conditions, alongside initiatives to enhance rehabilitation and reduce reoffending rates.

Access to Justice: Ensuring that everyone has access to legal representation and support is a key concern. The ministry aims to streamline legal processes and provide better resources for those in need.

Domestic Violence and Safeguarding: Strengthening protections for victims of domestic violence and improving safeguarding measures will be central to the ministry’s agenda, building on the previous work of Davies-Jones and others.

Judicial Efficiency: Modernising the court system to improve efficiency and reduce backlogs is another crucial area. The team plans to leverage technology and innovative practices to enhance the delivery of justice.

The new ministerial team at the Ministry of Justice, led by Shabana Mahmood, aims to bring significant changes to the UK’s legal landscape, address the pressing challenges within the justice system and drive forward meaningful reform.

We hope to deliver key updates on their progress at Modernising Criminal Justice 2025.

For more information about the Ministry of Justice and its initiatives, you can visit their official page.