Edward Faulks has a long career as a barrister specialising in claims arising from the Human Rights Act, professional and clinical negligence, personal injury, education, police claims and public law. He became a QC in 1996.

He was appointed to the House of Lords in 2010 and served as Justice Minister from 2013-2016. Edward Faulks no longer takes the Conservative whip and now sits as an unaffiliated peer.

Sir Hayden Phillips, Chairman of the IPSO Appointments Panel, said:

“We are delighted to be able to appoint someone of Edward Faulks’ authority and calibre. The strength of the field we were able to attract for the IPSO Chairman reflects the progress made in independent self-regulation of the press under the leadership of Sir Alan Moses, the current Chairman. I am confident that Edward will be a worthy successor.”

Edward Faulks said:

“I am very pleased to be appointed as the next Chairman of IPSO. The freedom of the press is a crucial part of our democracy, but with that freedom comes responsibility. The widely publicised abuses which led to the Leveson Report made it essential that there should be an independent and effective regulator, as IPSO is, to hold the press to account. I will work for those that feel wronged by the press, holding publishers to account to the standards encompassed in the Editors’ Code”.

Notes to editors

The IPSO Appointments Panel is independent of IPSO Board and is chaired by Sir Hayden Phillips, former Permanent Secretary at the Lord Chancellors’ Department. The other members of the panel are Wendy Harris, Jeremy Horner, Adrian Jeakings and Lloyd Embley. For this appointment the panel were also advised by John Witherow and Dame Laura Cox.

Edward Faulks will formally succeed Sir Alan Moses on 1 January 2020, at the end of Sir Alan’s second term as IPSO Chairman.

Please direct further inquiries to Vikki Julian, Communications Manager at vikki.julian@ipso.co.uk or 0300 123 2220.