Patricia Scotland

British barrister and baroness

Patricia Janet Scotland, Baroness Scotland of Asthal PC QC (born 19 August 1955) is an English politician and barrister. She served in ministerial positions within the UK Government, mainly as the Attorney General for England and Wales and Advocate General for Northern Ireland. In 2015, she was elected the 6th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations and took office on 1 April 2016. She is the first woman to hold the post.[1]


The Baroness Scotland of Asthal

6th Secretary-General of the Commonwealth of Nations
Assumed office
1 April 2016
MonarchElizabeth II
Preceded byKamalesh Sharma
Attorney General for England and Wales
In office
28 June 2007 – 11 May 2010
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
Preceded byThe Lord Goldsmith
Succeeded byDominic Grieve
Advocate General for Northern Ireland
In office
12 April 2010 – 11 May 2010
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
Preceded byOffice created
Succeeded byDominic Grieve
Attorney General for Northern Ireland
In office
28 June 2007 – 12 April 2010
Prime MinisterGordon Brown
Preceded byThe Lord Goldsmith
Succeeded byJohn Larkin
Shadow Attorney General
In office
11 May 2010 – 7 October 2011
LeaderHarriet Harman (Acting)
Ed Miliband
Preceded byEdward Garnier
Succeeded byEmily Thornberry
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
30 October 1997
Life Peerage
Personal details
Born (1955-08-19) 19 August 1955 (age 69)
Dominica, British Leeward Islands
Political partyLabour
Alma materAnglia Ruskin University
University College London
Middle Temple

She is a dual citizen of the United Kingdom and Dominica.[2]

References

change
  1. "Commonwealth elects first woman secretary general". Times of Malta. 27 November 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2015.
  2. "CHOGM: Patricia Scotland is first female Commonwealth secretary-general". The Australian. 28 November 2015. Retrieved 28 November 2015.