Marina Wheeler

Marina Wheeler. A distinguished King's Counsel and author, she is known for her expertise in public law and human rights law, with a career spanning several decades at the Bar of England and Wales. Her professional life has been conducted alongside a prominent public profile, notably through her former marriage to former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and her subsequent advocacy on health and constitutional matters. Wheeler has contributed significant commentary on Brexit and the rule of law, and has authored works on both legal topics and personal health.

Early life and education

Born in Berlin to the renowned BBC journalist Charles Wheeler and his Indian-born wife, the journalist Dip Singh, her childhood was spent across Europe, including periods in Brussels and the United Kingdom. She was educated at the European School, Brussels I, fostering a multilingual and international perspective from a young age. Wheeler read Law at Newnham College, Cambridge, graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree, before undertaking a Diploma in European Legal Studies at the College of Europe in Bruges. She completed her vocational training with the Legal Practice Course at the City University London.

Legal career

Wheeler was called to the bar at Middle Temple and built a formidable practice specializing in public law, human rights law, and employment law. She was appointed King's Counsel in 2016, recognizing her excellence as a leading advocate. Her casework has often involved significant challenges against government bodies, appearing in the High Court of Justice, the Court of Appeal of England and Wales, and the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom. She has acted in prominent inquiries, including the Bloody Sunday Inquiry, and has represented clients in matters before the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg.

Personal life

In 1993, she married the journalist and future Conservative Party politician Boris Johnson; the ceremony took place at the Roman Catholic Westminster Cathedral. They had four children together: Lara Lettice, Milo Arthur, Cassia Peaches, and Theodore Apollo. The couple's marriage and its eventual breakdown were subject to intense media scrutiny, particularly during Johnson's tenure as Mayor of London and later as Member of Parliament for Uxbridge and South Ruislip. They separated in 2018 and were divorced in 2020, with their family life often intersecting with the pressures of British politics.

Public roles and commentary

Beyond her legal practice, Wheeler has engaged in public debate, especially following the 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum. She has written extensively on the constitutional implications of Brexit for publications like The Guardian and The Times, frequently emphasizing the importance of the Good Friday Agreement and the European Convention on Human Rights. Following a personal health diagnosis, she became a prominent campaigner for cervical cancer awareness, working with charities like Jo's Cervical Cancer Trust and giving evidence to the Health and Social Care Select Committee of the House of Commons.

Publications

Wheeler is the author of *The Lost Homestead: My Mother, Partition and the Punjab* (2020), a historical memoir exploring her mother's family experience during the Partition of India. Her other major work is *Fight for Life: My Cancer Journey* (2023), a candid account of her diagnosis and treatment that also serves as a public health advocacy tool. She has also co-authored legal textbooks, including *Judicial Review: Law and Practice*, and contributed chapters to scholarly works on European Union law and administrative law.

Category:1964 births Category:Living people Category:British barristers Category:Alumni of Newnham College, Cambridge Category:People educated at the European School, Brussels I Category:English people of Indian descent