Politics
Sarah Sackman appointed justice minister in reshuffle
Jewish Labour MP was appointed Solicitor General after election in July
December 2, 2024 17:34
Jewish Labour MP was appointed Solicitor General after election in July
December 2, 2024 17:34Finchley and Golders Green MP Sarah Sackman has been appointed as a Minister of Justice in a move announced by the government on Monday.
She replaces Heidi Alexander, who was made Secretary of State for Transport on Friday following the resignation of Louise Haigh after it had emerged that she had wrongly told police that her mobile phone was stolen in 2013.
Attorney General Lord Hermer, paying tribute, said, “I would like to wish Sarah Sackman my very best wishes in her exciting new role.
“As Solicitor General, Sarah’s dedication to public service and her legal expertise has been an enormous boost to my department and to the government.”
He continued: “Sarah has worked with the Crown Prosecution Service on improving the experience for victims in the criminal justice system, provided crucial legal advice to cabinet ministers on several complex and challenging roles, and made difficult choices through her application of criminal casework ensuring that no one is above the law.”
The Alyth Synagogue congregant said he thought Sackman would “play an important role” in supporting the work of Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood.
Jewish Labour Movement also celebrated Sackman’s appointment, posting on X/Twitter: “Mazal tov to Sarah Sackman on her promotion to Minister of State for Justice! We’re so pleased for Sarah, our former vice chair, and know she’ll be fantastic in this new position.”
Mazal tov to @sarahsackman on her promotion to Minister of State for Justice!
— Jewish Labour Movement (@JewishLabour) December 2, 2024
We’re so pleased for Sarah, our former Vice Chair, and know she’ll be fantastic in this new position 👏🌹
In July, Sackman was elected to represent Finchley and Golders Green for the first time, thought to be the parliamentary constituency with the largest number of Jewish voters, and was the first Labour MP elected to represent the area since 2005.
She succeeded Conservative Mike Freer, himself a former justice minister, who stood down from parliament following threats and intimidation.
Following her election, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer made the unusual move of appointing her and a number of other newly elected MPs into ministerial roles.
Georgia Gould, who is also Jewish and represents Queen’s Park and Maida Vale, was appointed as a parliamentary secretary in the Cabinet Office at the time.
Other Jewish government frontbenchers include: Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary Ed Miliband; former Board of Deputies Chief Executive Baroness Merron, who is a health minister; Baroness Anderson, the former MP for Stoke on Trent North, who serves as a government whip in the House of Lords and MPs elected in 2024 Josh Simons and Matthew Patrick who were appointed to junior roles (Parliamentary Private Secretaries) last month.
The government also announced today that Ellie Reeves, Labour Party Chair and minister without portfolio would be attending cabinet.
Sackman herself is being replaced by Lucy Rigby who was also elected in 2024 and represents Northampton North.