Suella Braverman MP has been sworn in as attorney general for England and Wales, promising to restore confidence in the criminal justice system and thanking her predecessor for his ‘distinguished service’.

At a ceremony at the Royal Courts of Justice this afternoon, Braverman officially took up the role of attorney general, replacing Geoffrey Cox QC MP, who was sacked earlier this month. The lord chancellor, the Rt Hon Robert Buckland QC MP, the Lord Chief Justice, the Lord Burnett of Maldon, and chair of the Bar Council, Amanda Pinto QC, spoke at the ceremony to welcome her.

Robert Buckland QC MP said: ‘The relationship between the law officers and the lord chancellor is a crucial one. I look forward to working closely with the attorney on matters relating to the rule of law, which is the cornerstone of our democracy and a major factor in our success as a civilised and prosperous nation.’

Braverman added: ‘It is a privilege to be sworn in as attorney general and a moment I will cherish as the second woman to be appointed to this historic role. Restoring confidence in the criminal justice system is my top priority. I want to thank my predecessor for his work in this area and his distinguished service to government.’

Braverman read law at Queens' College, Cambridge University and did a masters in European and French law at the Pantheon-Sorbonne in Paris. She sat the New York Bar exams and qualified as an attorney in New York State. She also trained as a barrister in London and practised at the bar for 10 years, specialising in planning law and judicial review.

The former Brexit minister’s quoted views on the judiciary have stoked fear that the government will try to curtail judicial independence during her tenure. Last month Braverman wrote a piece for the Conservative Home website calling for politicians to take back control from the juducicary, citing the ‘chronic and steady encroachment by the judges’.