Keith Stewart QC named as Advocate General for Scotland

Keith Stewart QC has been confirmed as the new Advocate General for Scotland.

Mr Stewart succeeds Lord Keen of Elie QC as the chief legal adviser to the UK Government on Scots law. Lord Keen resigned as a law officer last month after more than five years in the post, having felt unable to support the Government over the UK Internal Market Bill and its conflict with international law.

The Prime Minister's office issued a statement that the Queen has approved the appointment and a life peerage for Mr Stewart.

Admitted to Faculty in 1993, Mr Stewart was appointed Queen's Counsel in 2011. He has practised widely in criminal law, both as defence counsel and, from 2003-2009, as a prosecutor, latterly as senior advocate depute. Other areas of practice have included contract, defamation and personal injury.

He said: "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."