South Swindon MP Robert Buckland has this week been appointed Solicitor General in Prime Minister David Cameron’s ministerial reshuffle.
Mr Buckland, pictured, a barrister, has replaced Oliver Heald, who held the post for the past two years. 
The Solicitor General – full title Her Majesty’s Solicitor General for England and Wales – is one of the Law Officers of the Crown, and the deputy of the Attorney General. Their duties include advising the Crown and Cabinet on the law and they can exercise the powers of the Attorney General in his or her absence. Despite the title, the position is usually held by a barrister.
Born in Llanelli, Mr Buckland graduated in Law from Hatfield College, Durham, in 1990, attended the Inns of Court School of Law and was called to the Bar at Inner Temple in 1991. He practised in Wales and London and in 2009 was appointed as a Recorder of the Crown Court, sitting on the Midland Circuit.
He was selected as the Conservative candidate for South Swindon in July 2004 and unsuccessfully fought the seat in the following year's General Election. However, he won the seat in 2010, securing a majority of more than 3,500 and overturning Labour’s majority with a 5.5% swing.
He sits on the Joint Committee on Human Rights, the Commons Standards Committee and the Commons Privileges Committee. A stanch Europhile – a stance which often puts him at odds with many of his fellow Conservative MPs – he chairs the All Party Group on the EU.
In a posting on his Facebook page, Mr Buckland said: “Being appointed Solicitor General is a huge privilege. I am delighted and honoured to have been asked by David Cameron to take on this senior role.
“Of course, I will continue to work hard for South Swindon, and pledge that there will be no impact on my constituency work.
The extra influence that comes with this position will be good news for South Swindon, and I will make sure I continue to represent fellow local residents effectively and conscientiously.”
Devizes MP Claire Perry became a transport minister in the reshuffle.
