The magic of being ‘the first’ is that you’ve got more chance of being remembered, for posterity, than being ‘the second’! Who was the second man to set foot on the moon?
Who was the second woman in the Bible? I rest my case!
In years to come, I’m sure that an invitation to recall who was the first female Prime Minister, in the UK would not be too much of test; but the second, however, (Theresa May) certainly might be! I think the same can be said with regards to who were the first and second black female MPs.
Diane Abbott was elected in 1987. Oona King would have to wait a full 10 years before she was elected. Interestingly, the third black woman (Dawn Butler) to be elected as an MP, would also have to wait for nearly a decade before being elected. Progress isn’t always as magical as it should be.
In September, David Lammy became the first black politician to be appointed as Deputy Prime Minister. Curiously, at the same time, he also became the first black Lord Chancellor and the first black Secretary of State for Justice. A kind of ‘triple first!’
What many people won’t know though, and which kind of makes my point, is that on July 5, 2024 he became the second black Foreign Secretary. The first was Sir James Cleverly, in September 2022. So, the UK had had two black Foreign Secretaries, from the two main political parties, within less than two years of each other.
It was Paul (now Baron) Boateng, however, who became the UK’s first black Government Minister, back in 1997, and the first black Cabinet Minister in 2002. He was one of the lawyers who acted for suspects accused of participating in the so-called ‘race riots’ in Bristol in 1980. It was that infamous event that triggered the copy-cat incidents in Brixton and Toxteth, Liverpool. It could be said that Mr Lammy’s appointment is a true testament of the magical social changes that have accrued since then.
In 2021, I. Stephanie Boyce became the first black person to be elected President of the Law Society of England and Wales. So, this is one area, at least, where us solicitors were ahead of our professional colleagues at the Bar – that really is magical!
The first black Chair of the Bar Council, appointed in 2025, is Barbara Mills KC. She has done many great things conducive to positive social changes in her career, including tackling violence against women and girls, and advancing equality, diversity and inclusion in society. She is one of only eight black female KCs in the country.
The honour of being the first black female silk goes to Patricia (now Baroness) Scotland KC who was appointed in 1991. She was also the youngest woman ever to be appointed as a silk, being only 35 at the time. It was a unique double first! She was also the first woman and the first black politician (so another double first) to hold the post of Attorney General, from 2007 to 2010.
In 2019, Kemi Badenoch became the first black Secretary of State for Children and Families. The current incumbent, Janet Davy, became the second black woman to hold the post in 2024. Margaret Thatcher held a very similar post to Kemi Badenoch’s Secretaryship, between 1970 and 1974 before famously going on to become Leader of the Conservative Party in 1975 and Prime Minister in 1979. It remains to be seen whether Ms Badenoch can fully emulate this. She became the first black leader of the Conservative Party in 2025.
The first black woman to be appointed to the High Court Bench was Dame Linda Dobbs in 2004. The second, The Honourable Ms Justice Obi, was appointed on September 25 this year. That was a long wait! Incidentally, she is the first black solicitor to reach the exalted ranks of the High Court.
Solicitors leading the pack again, and another unique double! We are still awaiting the appointment of the first black man to the High Court Bench. Progress isn’t always as magical as it should be!
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