Keith Stewart QC appointed Advocate General for Scotland

Keith Stewart QC has been appointed as the new Advocate General for Scotland by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

Stewart, who will be given a life peerage, has taken up the role after the previous Advocate General, Lord Keen of Elie, resigned over the UK Government’s Internal Market Bill.

Stewart is a criminal lawyer who previously worked for Blacks Chambers.

He was called to the bar in 1993 and became a QC in 2011.

He attended George Heriot’s School and studied English at Keble College, Oxford, before getting his LLB from Edinburgh University and his diploma from Strathclyde University.

Lord Keen resigned in September because of disagreements over sections of the UK Government’s Internal Market Bill that would break international law.

Keen told Johnson at the time that he "found it increasingly difficult to reconcile" his obligations as a law officer with the UK Government's decision to pursue the bill.

Stewart said: “I am very pleased to be appointed as the Advocate General for Scotland.  It is a great honour to be one of the UK Government’s law officers, and I very much look forward to playing a part in supporting the work of the UK Government.”

Scottish Secretary Alister Jack said: “I very much welcome the appointment of Keith Stewart QC as the new Advocate General for Scotland. Mr Stewart is an experienced and highly-respected legal expert, and will be an excellent law officer. I look forward to working with him on the many important issues ahead.”