22 Sep 2009 The Telegraph

Baroness Scotland of Asthal, the Attorney General – who has been fined £5,000 for employing an illegal immigrant as a housekeeper – has made a habit of blazing a trail throughout her high-flying career.

In 1991, she was the first black woman to be made Queen’s Counsel – having more than proved her mettle in a profession traditionally dominated by white males.

She went down in the history books in 1999 as the first black woman to serve as a Government minister.

Then, when Gordon Brown took over as Prime Minister in June 2007, she added a double distinction to her already packed CV, becoming both the first black Attorney General and the only woman to hold the post.

Despite the peer’s current predicament, few in Westminster regard her momentous achievements as undeserved. Having been an extremely successful barrister, Lady Scotland is generally regarded as an efficient and effective operator in Government.

Patricia Janet Scotland was born in Dominica on August 19 1955, the 10th of 12 children.

When she was aged just three, her family moved to Walthamstow in east London, and she studied law at the University of London before being called to the Bar in 1977.

In 1985 she married Richard Mawhinney – the brother of former Tory chairman Brian – with whom she has two sons.

After taking silk and helping found the thriving Chambers at 1 Gray’s Inn Square, Scotland appeared to be in line for a job as a High Court judge.

Tony Blair had other ideas, and raised her to the House of Lords in 1997.

Lady Scotland served as a minister at the Foreign Office from 1999 to 2001, and was parliamentary secretary in the Lord Chancellor’s department from 2001 until 2003.

She then moved to the Home Office as a minister, where she was given responsibility for crime reduction and taking forward the Prime Minister’s Respect agenda.

Lady Scotland is not thought to have been Mr Brown’s first choice to serve as Attorney General. He apparently approached Liberal Democrats Lord Lester and Lord Carlile, but the idea was vetoed by then-party leader Menzies Campbell.

Another name ”in the mix” was Lord Grabiner, an eminent QC who sits as an independent peer.

However, since being appointed, Lady Scotland has generally proved a safe pair of hands, avoiding major controversies.

With Downing Street adamant there will be no further action over the breach of immigration law, it seems that impressive track record has weighed heavily in her favour.

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http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/6218665/Attorney-General-Baroness-Scotland-Lady-Scotland-was-seen-as-a-safe-pair-of-hands.html