List of military veterans in British politics

Last updated

This is a list of currently serving members of the House of Commons, House of Lords, Scottish Parliament, Senedd (Welsh Parliament), Northern Ireland Assembly, and Police and Crime Commissioners who are ex-servicepeople.

Contents

House of Commons

NameConstituencyPartyService & BranchYearsRankNotes
Dan Jarvis Barnsley North Labour Parachute Regiment (1997 – 2011)14 Major Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2011
Alistair Carns Birmingham Selly Oak Labour Corps of Royal Marines (2000 – 2024)24 Colonel Received a Mention in Dispatches in 2007, decorated with the Military Cross (MC) in 2011 and appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2022
James Cleverly Braintree Conservative Royal Regiment of Artillery (1991 – present)33 Lieutenant Colonel Decorated with the Territorial Decoration (TD) in 2012
Jamie Stone Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross Liberal Democrats Territorial Army Private
Sir Iain Duncan Smith Chingford and Woodford Green Conservative Scots Guards (1975 – 1981)6 Lieutenant
Chris Coghlan Dorking and Horley Liberal Democrats Army Reserves (2017 – 2022)5 Captain
Mike Tapp Dover and Deal Labour Intelligence Corps (2007 – 2012)5
Helen Maguire Epsom and Ewell Liberal Democrats Royal Military Police (2002 – 2005)3 Captain
David Reed Exmouth and Exeter East Conservative Corps of Royal Marines

Special Forces Support Group

Sir Edward Leigh Gainsborough Conservative Honourable Artillery Company Trooper
Sir David Davis Goole and Pocklington Conservative 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve) (1966 – 1967)1
Alex Ballinger Halesowen Labour Corps of Royal Marines (2005 – 2013)5 Captain
Helena Dollimore Hastings and Rye Labour Army Reserves
Richard Foord Honiton and Sidmouth Liberal Democrats Adjutant General's Corps (2004 – 2010)6 Major
Ben Obese-Jecty Huntingdon Conservative Royal Yorkshire Regiment (14th/15th, 19th and 33rd/76th Foot) (2004 – 2012)8 Captain
Angus MacDonald Inverness, Skye and West Ross-shire Liberal Democrats Queen's Own Highlanders (Seaforth and Camerons)
Calvin Bailey Leyton and Wanstead Labour No. 903 Expeditionary Air Wing

No. LXX (70) Squadron Royal Air Force (2001 – 2024)

23 Wing Commander Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2015
Sir Julian Lewis New Forest East Conservative Royal Naval Reserve (1979 – 1982)3 Seaman
Sir Desmond Swayne New Forest West Conservative Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry

Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry Army Reserve (1987 – present)

37 Major Decorated with the Territorial Decoration (TD) in 2000
Ian Roome North Devon Liberal Democrats Royal Air Force (1986 – 1992)6
Steve Barclay North East Cambridgeshire Conservative Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (1991) Second Lieutenant
Louise Jones North East Derbyshire Labour Intelligence Corps (2013 – 2020)6
Clive Lewis Norwich South Labour Territorial Army (2006 – 2009)3 Captain
Fred Thomas Plymouth Moor View Labour Corps of Royal Marines (2016 – 2023)7 Captain
Mark Francois Rayleigh and Wickford Conservative Royal Anglian Regiment (1985 – 1991)6 Lieutenant
Neil Shastri-Hurst Solihull West and Shirley Conservative Royal Army Medical Corps (2006 – 2014)7 Major
Bayo Alaba Southend East and Rochford Labour Parachute Regiment
Paul Foster South Ribble Labour Royal Engineers 15
Stuart Anderson South Shropshire Conservative Royal Green Jackets (1993 – 2001)8
Andrew Murrison South West Wiltshire Conservative Royal Navy (1989 – present)35 Surgeon Commander
Lincoln Jopp Spelthorne Conservative Scots Guards (1990 – 2011)21 Lieutenant Colonel Decorated with the Military Cross (MC) in 1999
Jim Shannon Strangford DUP Ulster Defence Regiment (1974 – 1977)

Royal Artillery (1977 – 1989)

15Lance Bombadier
Jenny Riddell-Carpenter Suffolk Coastal Labour Territorial Army (2005 – 2009)4
Andrew Mitchell Sutton Coldfield Conservative Royal Tank Regiment 2 Second Lieutenant (on probation)
Will Stone Swindon North Labour The Rifles (2012 – 2017)5Rifleman
Cameron Thomas Tewkesbury Liberal Democrats Royal Air Force Police (2000 – 202325 Flight Lieutenant
Tom Tugendhat Tonbridge and Malling Conservative Educational and Training Services Branch of the Adjutant General's Corps (2000 – 2013)13 Lieutenant Colonel Appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2010
Mike Martin Tunbridge Wells Liberal Democrats Territorial Army Captain
Andrew Bowie West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine Conservative Royal Navy (2007 – 2010)

Royal Naval Reserve (2002 – present)

3 Sub-Lieutenant

House of Lords

NamePartyService & BranchYearsRankNotes
The Earl of Arran Conservative Grenadier Guards Second Lieutenant
The Lord Ashton of Hyde Conservative Royal Hussars

Royal Wessex Yeomanry

Lieutenant
The Earl Attlee Conservative Royal Corps of Transport

Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers Territorial Army (1974 – 2017)

43 Major Decorated with the Territorial Decoration (TD)
The Lord Baker of Dorking Conservative Royal Artillery Lieutenant
The Lord Barker of Battle Conservative Honourable Artillery Company (1989 – 1994)5
The Lord Bellingham Conservative Guards Division 1
The Lord Benyon Conservative Royal Green Jackets (1980 – 1985)4 Lieutenant
The Lord Bradshaw Liberal Democrats (1957 – 1959)2
The Viscount Bridgeman Conservative Royal Green Jackets (1950 – 1953)3 Lieutenant
The Viscount Brookeborough Crossbench 17th/21st Lancers (1971 – 1977)
Ulster Defence Regiment
Royal Irish Regiment (1977 – 1997)
26 Lieutenant Colonel
The Lord Burnett Liberal Democrats Corps of Royal Marines 7
The Earl Cathcart Conservative Scots Guards

Regular Reserve (1973 – 1980)

7 Lieutenant
The Lord Christopher Labour Royal Air Force (1944 – 1948)4
The Earl of Cork Crossbench Royal Navy (1963 – 1978)15 Lieutenant Commander
The Lord Craig of Radley Crossbench Royal Air Force (1951 – 1991) Marshal of the Royal Air Force Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1967 and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 1984
The Lord Dannatt Crossbench British Army (1971 – 2009)38 General Decorated with the Military Cross (MC) in 1972 and appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1996 and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 2009
The Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links Conservative 32nd Signal Regiment (2003 – 2006)3 Signaller
The Lord de Mauley Conservative Royal Wessex Yeomanry (1976 – 2005)29 Lieutenant Colonel Decorated with the Territorial Decoration (TD) in 1988
The Viscount Eccles Conservative King's Royal Rifle Corps Second Lieutenant
The Lord Elliott of Ballinamallard UUP Ulster Defence Regiment

Royal Irish Regiment (1982 – 1999)

17
The Earl of Erroll Crossbench 21 Special Air Service Regiment (Artists) (Reserve) (1975 – 1990)23 Colonel
The Lord Geddes Conservative Royal Navy (1956 – 1958)

Royal Naval Reserve

Lieutenant Commander
The Lord Geidt Crossbench Scots Guards

Intelligence Corps (1982 – 1994)

12
The Earl of Glasgow Liberal Democrats Royal Naval Reserve (1960 – 1963)3 Sub-Lieutenant
The Lord Glenarthur Conservative The Royal Hussars (1976 – 1980)4 Major
The Lord Green of Deddington Crossbench Royal Green Jackets 3
The Lord Hacking Labour Royal Naval Reserve (1954 – 1964)10 Lieutenant
The Lord Harlech Conservative London Regiment

London Guards (2019 – present)

5 Lieutenant
The Lord Harries of Pentregarth Crossbench Royal Corps of Signals (1955 – 1958)3 Lieutenant
The Lord Heseltine Non-affiliated Welsh Guards (1959) Second Lieutenant
The Lord Hintze Conservative Australian Army 3 Captain
The Lord Hope of Craighead Crossbench Seaforth Highlanders (1957 – 1959)2 Lieutenant
The Lord Houghton of Richmond Crossbench Green Howards

British Army (1974 – 2016)

42 General Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000 and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 2011
The Lord Janvrin Crossbench Royal Navy (1964 – 1975)11 Lieutenant
The Lord King of Bridgwater Conservative Somerset Light Infantry (Prince Albert's)

King's African Rifles

Lieutenant
The Lord Lancaster of Kimbolton Conservative Corps of Royal Engineers

Army Reserve (1988 – present)

36 Major General Decorated with the Efficiency Decoration (TD) in 2002
The Earl of Leicester Conservative Scots Guards (1987 – 1991)4
The Lord Maginnis of Drumglass Independent Ulster Unionist Ulster Defence Regiment (1971 – 1981)10 Major
The Lord Marlesford Conservative Coldstream Guards Lieutenant
The Lord Naseby Conservative Royal Air Force (1955 – 1957)2 Pilot Officer
The Lord Peach Crossbench Royal Air Force (1974 – 2022)48 Air Chief Marshal Appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 2009, a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in 2016 and a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter (KG) in 2024
The Lord Richards of Herstmonceux Crossbench 3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery

British Army (1971 – 2013)

42 General Received a Mention in Dispatches in 1993 and was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 2000, a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in 2001 and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 2011
The Lord Robathan Conservative Coldstream Guards
Special Air Service (1974 – 1989)
14 Major
The Lord Soames of Fletching Conservative 11th Hussars (Prince Albert's Own) Royal Hussars (Prince of Wales' Own)
Regular Reserve (1967 – 1975)
8 Second Lieutenant
The Earl of Stair Crossbench Scots Guards (1982 – 1987)5 Lieutenant
The Lord Stirrup Crossbench Royal Air Force (1968 – 2011)43 Marshal of the Royal Air Force Decorated with the Air Force Cross (AFC) in 1983 and appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 2005 and a Knight Companion of the Order of the Garter (KG) in 2013
The Lord Swire Conservative Grenadier Guards (1980 – 1983)3 Lieutenant
The Viscount Trenchard Conservative Royal Green Jackets (1972 – 1980)8 Captain
The Lord Walker of Aldringham Crossbench Royal Anglian Regiment

British Army (1966 – 2006)

40 Field Marshal Appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1985, a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in 1997 and a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 1999
The Lord West of Spithead Labour Royal Navy (1965 – 2006)41 Admiral Decorated with the Distinguished Service Cross (DSC) in 1982 and appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in 2004
The Lord Wrottesley Conservative Grenadier Guards Captain

Police and Crime Commissioner

NamePolice areaPartyService & BranchYearsRankNotes
Chris Nelson Gloucestershire Constabulary Conservative Royal Regiment of Artillery Colonel
Philip Seccombe Warwickshire Police Conservative Warwickshire Yeomanry (1977 – 2002)25 Colonel
Philip Wilkinson Wiltshire Police Conservative Royal Regiment of Artillery (1969 – 1998)29 Colonel Appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1998

Scottish Parliament

NameConstituencyPartyService & BranchRankNotes
Keith Brown Clackmannanshire and Dunblane SNP Royal Marines (1980 – 1983) Marine
Mark Griffin Central Scotland Labour Territorial Army Private
Paul Sweeney Glasgow Labour Royal Corps of Signals

Royal Regiment of Scotland (2006 – 2018)

See also

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