In 2006, Michael was commissioned by the UK Houses of Parliament to paint the then Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, for the House of Lords collection. The reform of the role in 2006 has meant that in effect the painting marks the last in a line of such portraits stretching back to the Norman Conquest. The portrait was unveiled at the house of Lords on July 9th 2007.
In their youth, Charles Falconer became a friend of Tony Blair, former UK Prime Minister. Under Blair’s patronage, Falconer was made a life peer in May 1997. He was subsequently promoted to various high offices of state. This included taking ministerial responsibility for the Millennium Dome and being the first Secretary of State for Justice. After Blair’s departure as PM in June 2007, he was replaced in all his ministerial posts. From May 2015 until June 2016, he was Shadow Lord Chancellor and Shadow Secretary of State for Justice. He was appointed as Shadow Attorney General in the in April 2020, and stepped down from the role in November 2021.
