Robert Buckland MP - Who is he?

Robert Buckland was first elected as the Conservative Member of Parliament for South Swindon in 2010, gaining the seat from the Labour Party. He was reelected in 2019 with a majority of 6,625.

Swindon South is a long standing marginal constituency which has changed hands with the government of the day ever since 1983. As its name suggests, the seat contains the southern half of the railway town of Swindon, alongside a number of rural villages just below the town. The seat contains the headquarters of the Nationwide building society, and a base for Zurich Financial Services, and Intel.

Buckland who grew up in Wales was reappointed to the Cabinet in July 2022 by Boris Johnson as Secretary of State for Wales. He continued in this role under Liz Truss. However, having transferred his backing from Rishi Sunak to Ms Truss during the 2022 conservative leadership election, Mr Buckland left the government when Mr Sunak acquired the top job in October 2022.

Robert Buckland: ‘The Conservative party must demonstrate our commitment to the rule of law’

Buckland was previously appointed to the Cabinet and served as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor between 2019 and 2021. He previously served as Minister for Prisons (2019) and Solicitor General (2014-2019).

Buckland was born in Llanelli in 1968. He later read law at Durham University. Buckland attended the Inns of Court School of Law, and was called to the Bar at Inner Temple in October 1991. He returned to practise as a barrister in Wales, and then Cardiff.

In 2009, Robert Buckland was appointed as a Recorder of the Crown Court, sitting as a judge on the Midlands Circuit.

Buckland supported Boris Johnson in the 2019 Conservative leadership election, but is regarded to sit on the left of the Conservative Party. He supported Remain in the 2016 Brexit referendum, and is a member of the Tory Reform Group.

He is married with twins. According to the Register of Members Interests, he employs his wife, Sian Buckland, as a part time caseworker. He lists his interest as wine, political history and watching rugby and cricket.