Page 76 - Powerlist 2020

Politics, Law & Religion Rev Rose Hudson-Wilkin

Chaplain to the Speaker of the House of
Commons

The Church of England’s Rev Rose was the first black person
to hold the position of Chaplain to the Speaker of the House
of Commons. The 79th cleric in that role, she was appointed
by Speaker John Bercow in 2010, but she had more history to
make – by becoming the UK’s first black female bishop.
The next Bishop of Dover takes up her appointment in
November 2019. Her consecration into the role will take
place at St Paul’s Cathedral on November 19.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, she said:
“It’s been a long time coming and we’re working at it and we
are going to hold them [the Church] to account.”
The Rev Rose has been critical in the past about the
Church’s lack of diversity in senior positions and accused it
of “institutional racism”.
As the Commons vicar, her role involved conducting daily
prayers in the Chamber of the House, a weekly Eucharistic
service in the chapel and weddings, marriage blessings and
baptism of Members of Parliament. She was also responsible
Martin Forde, QC for the pastoral care of members and staff of the Palace of
Westminster.
Barrister The Rev Rose was previously vicar of Holy Trinity Church,
Dalston and All Saints Church, Haggerston, where she
famously staged a rooftop protest on the church to highlight
Martin Forde, QC has a practice that covers all aspects of the need for funds to repair the fabric of the building.
Health Law. He appears regularly in all the Regulatory and The Rev Rose was awarded an Honorary Doctorate (Doctor
Disciplinary tribunals, predominantly for practitioners of Law) for being an Outstanding Jamaican by the University
including doctors, dentists, osteopaths, chiropractors and of Technology, Jamaica in November 2017. She was also
optometrists. made a Fellow in Public Theology at Virginia Theological
In May 2018, he was appointed by the Government to Seminary in the US.
advise on how the victims of the Windrush scandal should She is a trustee of the Trusthouse Charitable Foundation,
be compensated. and has twice represented the Church of England at the
On his appointment, Martin said: “The Home Secretary World Council of Churches.
announced that I had been appointed to give independent
advice to the Home Office regarding the design of a
compensation scheme, to address issues arising from
difficulties encountered by those who suffered as a result of
having to demonstrate their immigration status.
“I have been strongly supported by Home Office staff,
many of whom volunteered and some of whom have
relatives affected by the application of recent immigration
policies.”
This April, the Windrush Compensation Scheme, which
Martin designed, was launched by then Home Secretary
Sajid Javid. He said: “I believe it is accessible and, most
importantly, fairly compensates those who have suffered.”
Martin, who has featured in the Lawyer magazine’s
annual Hot 100 listing of the 100 best lawyers in the UK,
has acted for the General Medical Council and the General
Dental Council.
He has appeared in a number of major cases in the Privy
Council and has been involved in medical-related judicial
review hearings in the Administrative Court as well as
judicial review hearings involving mental health and
immigration issues. His clinical negligence and personal
injury practice is exclusively undertaken in the High Court
involving injuries of maximum severity.
He has been recognised as a Band 1 practitioner by
Chambers & Partners since 2010.

76 Powerlist 2020