Former solicitor general Sir Edward Garnier QC has been appointed to represent former Conservative Party treasurer Lord McAlpine over allegations linking him to historical child abuse.

Garnier, who is now at One Brick Court, has been instructed as counsel for the Conservative peer by Andrew Reid of RMPI, formerly Reid Minty.

The accusations, which McAlpine has stated are "wholly false and seriously defamatory", come after the BBC's Newsnight broadcast a report featuring claims from a former care home resident that he had been abused by a senior politician of the Thatcher era, who was not named.

The Times reports today (12 November) that McAlpine is considering suing people who named him on social media sites such as Twitter. 

Garnier specialises in defamation and libel in all media, and has acted for a number of national, foreign and local press, broadcasters and publishing houses. He has also held a number of legal roles within the political sphere, including most recently acting as solicitor general from 2010-12, and previously shadow attorney general.

He was succeeded as solicitor general this year by North East Hertfordshire MP Oliver Heald. Heald is a trained barrister and practised for 23 years before becoming a government minister in 1995.

The news comes after a spate of accusations surrounding child abuse and the late TV star Jimmy Savile, drawing attention to the issue. Pannone and Russell Jones & Walker have both taken roles related to the Savile scandal acting for a number of victims that have allegedly suffered abuse.

Reed Smith has taken a lead role for the BBC on the broadcaster's inquiries into the scandal.