The role of Attorney General – the chief legal adviser to the Government – is set for a revamp as Whitehall gears up to launch a consultation on the 500-year old post.
The consultation will assess the constitutional make-up of the role and determine whether its legal and ministerial functions should be seperated. Options likely to be considered include the creation of a new general counsel-style post to advise the Government on legal matters, with responsibility for prosecutions being retained by the Attorney General.
The launch of the consultation comes after new Prime Minister Gordon Brown last week said the role had to change.
That followed criticism levelled at former Attorney General Lord Goldsmith over his involvement in the ‘cash for honours’ enquiry, which raised questions about potential conflicts of interest.
Baroness Scotland – who succeeded Lord Goldsmith after he stepped down from the position last month – will not make any key prosecution decisions in individual criminal cases pending the outcome of the consultation, unless required to do so by law or national security.
