What is Lord Chancellor?
{{distinguish2|the [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]]}} {{Infobox Political post | border = parliamentary | minister = prime | insignia = Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government).svg | insigniacaption = Arms of [[Government of the United Kingdom|His Majesty's Government]] | post = Lord Chancellor | image = Shabana Mahmood Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 2 (cropped).jpg | incumbent = [[Shabana Mahmood]] | incumbentsince = 5 July 2024 | appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The Sovereign]]<br /><small>on advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]</small> | inaugural = [[William Cowper, 1st Baron Cowper|The Lord Cowper]] | formation = May 1707 <br /><small> of [[Kingdom of Great Britain]]</small> | style = [[The Right Honourable]] }} The '''Lord High Chancellor of Great Britain''', or '''Lord Chancellor''' is a senior and important functionary in the [[government]] of the [[United Kingdom]]. They are the second highest ranking of the Great Officers of State after the [[Lord High Steward]]. The Lord Chancellor is appointed by the [[British monarchy|Sovereign]] on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]]. Before the [[Acts of Union 1707|Union]] there were separate Lord Chancellors<ref>The title can be pluralised 'Lord Chancellors' or 'Lords Chancellor'. The former is more common and is used for consistency throughout the article. See Gardner, B., (2001), ''A dictionary of modern legal usage'', Oxford University Press, p. 538.</ref> of England and Scotland. Until [[Tony Blair]] became Prime Minister the Lord Chancellor was required to be a member of the [[House of Lords]], was its presiding officer, and was Britain's highest-ranking judge. Blair tried to abolish the position and wound up removing some of its responsibilities and dividing others, and now the holder is usually in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]]. The Lord C