Peter Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith
PC KC | |
---|---|
In office 8 June 2001 – 27 June 2007 | |
Prime Minister | Life peerage |
Personal details | |
Born | Liverpool, England | 5 January 1950
Political party | Labour |
Alma mater | |
Peter Henry Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith,
Biography
Goldsmith was born in
Goldsmith has also held a number of posts in international legal organisations, including Council Member of the International Bar Association (IBA) and of the Union Internationale des Avocats. From 1998 until his appointment as Attorney General he was co-chairman of the IBA's Human Rights Institute. Between 1997 and 2000 he was Chairman of the Financial Reporting Review Panel, a non-departmental public body responsible for enforcing financial reporting standards. In 1997 he was elected to membership of the American Law Institute and made a member of the Paris Bar.
In 1996 he founded the Bar Pro Bono Unit (now Advocate [1]) of which he was chairman until 2000 and remains president. He was the Prime Minister's Personal Representative to the Convention for the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.
In November 2006, he visited a number of pro bono legal and criminal justice charities in Kenya, including Philemon Ministries.[8]
In 2006, Goldsmith gave a speech at the
In 2007 he won a High Court injunction against the BBC, preventing reporting of aspects of the New Labour Cash-for-Honours scandal by successfully arguing a broadcast of confidential information would have harmed a police inquiry.[10]
Al-Yamamah arms deal controversy
In 2007, Goldsmith was accused of attempting to cover up the BAE-Saudi corruption case by ordering the Serious Fraud Office to call off its ongoing investigation into the matter, arguing that it might "compromise national security."[11][12]
He later admitted that the MI6 had never possessed intelligence that Saudi Arabia planned to cut security links with Britain.[13]
Invasion of Iraq controversy
The nature of Goldsmith's legal advice to the government over the legality of the 2003 invasion of Iraq was a significant political issue at the time.
The government turned down repeated calls to break with tradition and have the advice made public. Goldsmith's original memo to the prime minister written on 30 January 2003 opined that
In his final advice to the government, written on 17 March 2003, Goldsmith stated that the use of force in Iraq was lawful.[16] This advice stated Goldsmith's preferred view in more unequivocal terms than his earlier memo, without reference to the doubts expressed therein. This has led to allegations that Goldsmith succumbed to political pressure to find legal justification for the use of force against Iraq.[17] Shortly after the leak Goldsmith released a statement in response to such allegations, saying that the two documents were consistent, pointing to the difference in the nature of the two documents and to the firm assurances he claims to have had received between 7 and 17 March that Iraq was indeed in breach of its obligations under Security Council resolutions.[citation needed]
The controversy was heightened by the resignation of
In November 2008, the former Lord Chief Justice and Senior Law Lord
Goldsmith
In July 2017, former Iraqi general Abdulwaheed al-Rabbat launched a private war crimes prosecution, in the High Court in London, asking for Goldsmith, Tony Blair and former foreign secretary Jack Straw to be prosecuted for "the crime of aggression" for their role in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. The High Court ruled that, although the crime of aggression was recognised in international law, it was not an offence under UK law, and, therefore, the prosecution could not proceed.[22][23]
Present position
This section of a poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous. )Find sources: "Peter Goldsmith, Baron Goldsmith" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2023) |
Goldsmith has been appointed head of European Litigation at the London office of US law firm
Upon leaving office, former attorneys general usually return to practise at the Bar, often at the chambers which they left upon appointment as attorney. Unlike the position with retired lords chancellor, there is no prohibition on an attorney general returning to practise at the Bar.[citation needed]
As a former minister and holder of public office, Goldsmith had to accept a number of restrictions on his freedom to practise for two years after leaving office. The restrictions are imposed by the prime minister on the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, a branch of the Cabinet Office.[citation needed]
Goldsmith's restrictions prevented him, for 12 months after leaving office, from being personally involved in lobbying government Ministers or officials. For two years after leaving office, he was required to stand aside from dealing with any matter about which he had confidential or privileged information acquired while he was Attorney General.[citation needed]
In August 2008, Goldsmith was appointed as an independent non-executive director of the Australian property trust, Westfield Group.[25]
Arms
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References
- ^ "Debevoise coup with Lord Goldsmith hire". Legal Week. 27 September 2007. Retrieved 28 September 2007.[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Council Members and Committees of the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre". The Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre. Archived from the original on 6 October 2014. Retrieved 26 September 2014.
- ^ "No. 50922". The London Gazette. 19 May 1987. p. 6476.
- ^ "No. 50906". The London Gazette. 1 May 1987. p. 5769.
- ^ "No. 55573". The London Gazette. 5 August 1999. p. 8457.
- ^ "No. 56265". The London Gazette. 5 July 2001. p. 7936.
- ^ "Privy Counsellors". Privy Council Office. Archived from the original on 24 July 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2016.
- ^ "The Lawyers Christian Fellowship - the Attorney General Visits CLEAR in Nairobi". Archived from the original on 28 July 2011. Retrieved 5 February 2011. Report of Lord Goldsmith's Visit to Kenyan charities]
- ^ "UK calls for Guantanamo closure". BBC. 10 May 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Exclusive: Government seeks to gag BBC over spy story". The Telegraph. 21 January 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ The Independent (9 June 2007). "Goldsmith denies cover-up over BAE's alleged Saudi fund". London. Archived from the original on 22 June 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ The Guardian (11 June 2007). "New pressure on Goldsmith after cabinet inquiry call". London. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ Britain censured over decision to drop BAE Saudi corruption inquiry, Rob Evans, 19 Jan 2007, The Guardian
- NYRB. Retrieved 25 March 2018.
- ^ BBC News (7 March 2003). "Iraq resolution 1441 advice – original memo" (PDF). Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "A case for war – Lord Goldsmith's published advice on the legal basis for the use of force against Iraq". The Guardian. London. 17 March 2003. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Army chiefs feared Iraq war illegal just days before start". The Guardian. London. 29 February 2004. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- ^ "Wilmshurst resignation letter". BBC News. 24 March 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2007.
- YouTube, 26 January 2010
- ^ "Iraq war 'violated rule of law'". BBC News. 18 November 2008. Retrieved 18 November 2008.
- ^ "Goldsmith admits to changing view over Iraq advice". BBC. 27 January 2010. Retrieved 29 January 2010.
- ^ Bowcott, Owen (31 July 2017). "Tony Blair prosecution over Iraq war blocked by judges". The Guardian. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Osborne, Samuel (31 July 2017). "High Court rules Tony Blair can't be prosecuted for Iraq war". The Independent. Archived from the original on 26 May 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
- ^ Debevoise & Plimpton Lawyer Profiles. Accessed 30 January 2023.
- ^ "Board of Directors". Westfield Group. Archived from the original on 29 April 2009. Retrieved 11 May 2009.
- ^ Debrett's Peerage. 2019. p. 2755.