Lord Advocate has Cabinet role despite SNP vow
ministers have been accused of breaking a promise to ‘depoliticise’ the role of scotland’s top law officer.
When the SNP came to power in 2007, then first minister Alex salmond said it was ‘unnecessary and inappropriate’ for the Lord Advocate to be involved in the ‘political operations’ of government or sit at the Cabinet table.
But it has now been disclosed that the present Lord Advocate, James Wolffe, QC, has attended 59 sessions of nicola sturgeon’s Cabinet in the past two years – nearly threequarters of all meetings held.
Liam Kerr, justice spokesman for the scottish Conservatives, said: ‘it’s all well saying you will depoliticise the role of the Lord Advocate, but with him attending three-quarters of Cabinet meetings that’s clearly not been the case.
‘it will again cause scots to question whether they can trust what the SNP say.’
soon after he came to power, mr salmond tried to put distance between the legal aspects of the Lord Advocate’s job and the political side of his government.
Although he said it was ‘essential’ that members of the Cabinet had access to sound legal advice, he said at the time: ‘involvement of the law officers in the political operations of Government is unnecessary and inappropriate.
‘so the Lord Advocate will not be a Cabinet member and will not normally attend meetings. that will emphasise the apolitical and professional role that is appropriate.’
elish Angiolini, who held the role until 2011, was only present at 28 Cabinet meetings in the entire fouryear spell when the Snp led a minority administration.
Between 2011 and 2016, her successor Frank mulholland attended 81 of 191 Cabinet meetings. mr mulholland was replaced by mr Wolffe, who has attended 59 of 78 Cabinet meetings – nearly 75 per cent.
scots Labour justice spokesman Daniel Johnson said: ‘it is worth the Government reflecting if it is advisable to have the Lord Advocate as a regular part of the Cabinet.’
A scottish Government spokesman said: ‘the attendance of Law Officers reflects the extent to which legal issues arise in the course of Government business.’