Straw, Jack (1946– )

British Labour lawyer and politician, justice secretary and Lord Chancellor from June 2007. Situated on the right wing of the Labour party, Straw was home secretary during the Labour government's first term 1997–2001 and introduced crime reduction programmes, while also facing a rising level of political asylum applications. As foreign secretary 2001–2006, he backed Prime Minister Tony Blair during the US-led Iraq War in 2003, although he had reservations about proceeding without broader United Nations support. He was leader of the House of Commons 2006–07.

Born in Buckhurst Hill, Essex, Straw studied law at Leeds University and first came to public notice as president of the National Union of Students 1969–71. He worked as a barrister 1972–74 and was deputy leader of the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) 1973–74. He was special adviser to Labour's social services secretary, Barbara Castle, 1974–76, and environment secretary, Peter Shore, 1976–77. He worked on Granada Television's World in Action programme before being elected MP for Blackburn in 1979. He became a member of Labour's front bench team in 1980, and then shadow education secretary 1987–92, shadow environment secretary 1992–94, and shadow home secretary 1994–97.