Has UK Ever Had A Female Chancellor?

Liz Truss, the first female lord chancellor, has been sworn into office amid a row over allegedly misogynistic comments questioning her suitability.

In the imposing surroundings of the lord chief justice’s court, Truss, the former environment secretary, pledged to respect the rule of law, defend the independence of the judiciary and provide adequate resources for the courts.

She is the third justice secretary and lord chancellor in a row to take on the dual roles who have not been a lawyer, though the previous two – Chris Grayling and Michael Gove – did not arrive amid a squall of complaints.

Her status as the first woman to occupy the state’s oldest legal office was put into doubt by the lord chief justice, John Thomas, whose welcoming speech pointed out that in 1253 Henry III’s queen, Eleanor of Provence, held the post of keeper of the great seal and exercised the power of lord chancellor.

Making a distinction between ownership of the seal and the office of lord chancellor, he said: “My lady, you are the first female custodian of the great seal since Eleanor of Provence was lady keeper. You are the first female lord chancellor. Today is a historic occasion.”

Truss will not be styled “lady chancellor”. To make the change would involve rewriting potentially thousands of statutes.

Lord Thomas stressed Truss’s previous distinguished record, from reading philosophy, politics and economics at Oxford University, to become a management accountant, deputy director of the think tank Reform, MP, education minister and environment secretary.