"Attack dog" Chris Grayling is appointed justice minister

Conservative MP Chris Grayling has replaced Ken Clarke as the country's justice secretary, following a reshuffle by Prime Minister David Cameron on 4 September. Grayling is the first non-lawyer to hold the role since 1558 and has no prior legal experience or qualifications.

It has been widely reported in the media that Grayling's appointment is designed to please core Conservative voters with a return to a "tough justice" stance. The Daily Mail has reported that Grayling has abandoned plans to reduce the nationwide prison population set out by his predecessor, Clarke, an experienced QC. Grayling is also expected to more aggressively oppose the rulings of the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), a policy he began by stating his disappointment at the ECHR ruling which held that the British practice of indefinite prison sentences breaches human rights.

Grayling's hard-line approach courted controversy while the Conservatives were in opposition, notably when he compared Moss Side in Greater Manchester to the scenes of "urban war" in the US TV series The Wire and stated his belief that bed and breakfast proprietors should be able to turn away gay couples if they were offended by homosexuality. As a result of this political posturing and lack of legal experience, many lawyers have responded with scepticism to Grayling's appointment, with notable examples in the UK Human Rights Blog, The Guardian and this piece from A(nother) Lawyer Writes, which questions the legality of Grayling's appointment. Aspiring lawyers will watch with interest to see if Grayling is able to work with the profession to improve the legal system or whether he uses his post to further his own political ambitions.