Andy Slaughter

Andrew Francis Slaughter (born 29 September 1960) is a British politician who has served as Solicitor General for England and Wales since 2026. A member of the Labour Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Hammersmith and Chiswick, formerly, Hammersmith and Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush, since 2005.

Prior to his election to Parliament, he had served as Leader of the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham Council. At the 2024 general election, Slaughter successfully stood in the new seat of Hammersmith and Chiswick.

Early life and education Slaughter was born on 29 September 1960. He was privately educated at the Latymer Upper School, before studying at the University of Exeter, College of Law, and the Inns of Court School of Law.

Legal career Slaughter was called to the bar at Middle Temple in 1993, thereby qualifying to practice as a barrister. He was a barrister with Bridewell Chambers from 1993 to 2006, before joining Lamb Chambers in 2006.

In government He was appointed Parliamentary private secretary (PPS) to Stephen Ladyman MP, Minister of State for the Department for Transport and served from November 2005 to June 2007. In June 2007, he was appointed PPS to Lord Malloch-Brown, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, and also served as PPS to Digby, Lord Jones, Minister of State at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform, and between July 2007 and October 2008.

Slaughter also campaigned against the expansion of Heathrow Airport during his time in Government. On 27 January 2009, he resigned his PPS role as he opposed the Government's plans for a third runway at Heathrow.

In opposition In October 2010, Slaughter was invited to join the Labour frontbench as Shadow Justice Minister. Slaughter served as the lead shadow minister opposing the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Act 2012 and the Justice and Security Act 2012. He resigned in June 2016, citing concerns over Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. He supported Owen Smith in the 2016 Labour Party leadership election.

Slaughter was appointed as Shadow Minister for Housing in October 2016;

In the November 2021 British shadow cabinet reshuffle, he became the new Shadow Solicitor General.

On 15 November 2023, Slaughter voted for an SNP amendment to the King's Speech, demanding an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, contrary to the Labour Party's official stance to support HM Government line on the Gaza War. He was dismissed by Sir Keir Starmer from his position as Shadow Solicitor General.

Return to government Slaughter was re-elected in the 2024 general election. In July 2026, he was appointed to the new government as Solicitor General for England and Wales in the Ministry of Justice by Andy Burnham.