Secretary of State for Defence

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United Kingdom
Secretary of State for Defence
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Flag of the British Secretary of State for Defence.svg
Flag of the Secretary of State for Defence
John Healey Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
John Healey
since 5 July 2024
Ministry of Defence
Style
Type Minister of the Crown
Status Secretary of State
Member of
Reports to The Prime Minister
Seat Westminster
NominatorThe Prime Minister
Appointer The Monarch
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term length At His Majesty's pleasure
Constituting instrument Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964 section 1(1)(a)
Precursor
Formation1 April 1964
First holder Peter Thorneycroft
Salary£159,038 per annum (2022) [1]
(including £86,584 MP salary) [2]
Website Defence Secretary

The secretary of state for defence, also known as the defence secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Ministry of Defence. [3] As a senior minister, the incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.

Contents

The post of secretary of state for defence was created on 1 April 1964, replacing the positions of minister of defence, first lord of the admiralty, secretary of state for war, and secretary of state for air, while the individual offices of the British Armed Forces were abolished and their functions transferred to the Ministry of Defence. In 2019, Penny Mordaunt became the UK's first female defence secretary. [4]

The secretary of state is supported by the other ministers in the Defence Ministerial Team and the MOD permanent secretary. The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow secretary of state for defence, and the secretary of state is also scrutinised by the Defence Select Committee. [5]

The current secretary of state for defence is John Healey, who was appointed on 5 July 2024 following the 2024 United Kingdom general election. [6]

Responsibilities

In contrast to what is generally known as a defence minister in many other countries, the Defence Secretary's remit includes:

History

Principal political leaders of the English/British Armed Forces:
Royal NavyBritish ArmyRoyal Air ForceCo-ordination
1628 First Lord of the Admiralty
(1628–1964)
1794 Secretary of State for War
(1794–1801)
1801 Secretary of State for War and the Colonies
(1801–1854)
1854 Secretary of State for War
(1854–1964)
1919 Secretary of State for Air
(1919–1964)
1936 Minister for Co-ordination of Defence
(1936–1940)
1940 Minister of Defence (1940–1964)
1964 Secretary of State for Defence (1964–present)

Minister for Co-ordination of Defence (1936–1940)

The position of minister for co-ordination of defence was a British Cabinet-level position established in 1936 to oversee and co-ordinate the rearmament of Britain's defences. It was established by the prime minister, Stanley Baldwin, in response to criticism that Britain's armed forces were understrength compared to those of Nazi Germany. When the Second World War broke out, the new prime minister Neville Chamberlain formed a small War Cabinet and it was expected that the minister would serve as a spokesperson for the three service ministers, the secretary of state for war, the first lord of the admiralty and the secretary of state for air; however, political considerations resulted in all three posts being included in the Cabinet, and this role proved increasingly redundant. In April 1940 the position was formally wound up and the functions transferred to other ministers.

MinisterTerm of officePartyMinistry
Thomas Inskip.jpg Thomas Inskip
MP for Fareham
(1876–1947)		13 March 193629 January 1939 Conservative Baldwin III
Chamberlain I
Echatfield.jpg Ernle Chatfield
1st Baron Chatfield
(1873–1967)		29 January 19393 April 1940 Independent
(National)
Chamberlain War

Minister of Defence (1940–1964)

The post of minister of defence was responsible for co-ordination of defence and security from its creation in 1940 until its abolition in 1964. The post was a Cabinet level post and generally ranked above the three service ministers, some of whom, however, continued to also serve in Cabinet.

On his appointment as prime minister in May 1940, Winston Churchill created for himself the new post of minister of defence. The post was created in response to previous criticism that there had been no clear single minister in charge of the prosecution of World War II. In 1946, the post became the only cabinet-level post representing the military, with the three service ministers – the secretary of state for war, the first lord of the admiralty, and the secretary of state for air, now formally subordinated to the minister of defence.

PortraitName
(birth–death)		Term of officeTenurePolitical partyMinistry
Took officeLeft office
Churchill1944.png Winston Churchill
MP for Epping
(1874–1965)		10 May 194027 July 19455 years, 78 days Conservative Churchill War
Churchill Caretaker
Attlee BW cropped.jpg Clement Attlee
MP for Limehouse
(1883–1967)		27 July 194520 December 19461 year, 146 days Labour Attlee I
INF3-62 A V Alexander Artist's signature E A B.jpg A. V. Alexander
MP for Sheffield Hillsborough
(1885–1965)		20 December 194628 February 19503 years, 70 days Labour Co-op
Emanuel Shinwel HU 059765 (crop).jpg Emanuel Shinwell
MP for Easington
(1884–1986)		28 February 195026 October 19511 year, 240 days Labour Attlee II
Churchill portrait NYP 45063.jpg Winston Churchill
MP for Woodford
(1874–1965)		28 October 19511 March 1952127 days Conservative Churchill III
Sir Harold Alexander 026065.jpg Harold Alexander
1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
(1891–1969)		1 March 195218 October 19542 years, 231 daysIndependent
Harold Macmillan in 1942.jpg Harold Macmillan
MP for Bromley
(1894–1986)		18 October 19547 April 1955171 days Conservative
SelwynLloyd1960.jpg Selwyn Lloyd
MP for The Wirral
(1904–1978)		7 April 195520 December 1955257 days Conservative Eden
Sir Walter Monckton, January 1942 IWM A 6697 (cropped).jpg Walter Monckton
MP for Bristol West
(1891–1965)		20 December 195518 October 1956303 days Conservative
Blank.png Antony Head
MP for Carshalton
(1906–1983)		18 October 19569 January 195783 days Conservative
Sandys 1944 cropped.jpg Duncan Sandys
MP for Streatham
(1906–1987)		13 January 195714 October 19592 years, 274 days Conservative Macmillan I
Blank.png Harold Watkinson
MP for Woking
(1910–1995)		14 October 1959 13 July 1962 2 years, 272 days Conservative Macmillan II
Peter Thorneycroft cropped.png Peter Thorneycroft
MP for Monmouth
(1909–1994)		 13 July 1962 1 April 19641 year, 263 days Conservative
Douglas-Home

Secretary of State for Defence (1964–present)

The post was created in 1964 as successor to the posts of minister for coordination of defence and minister of defence. It replaced the positions of first lord of the admiralty, secretary of state for war and secretary of state for air, as the Admiralty, War Office and Air Ministry were merged into the Ministry of Defence (the secretary of state for war had already ceased to be a cabinet position in 1946, with the creation of the cabinet-level minister of defence).

Secretaries of state for defence (1964–present)

Secretary of State for Defence
PortraitName
(birth–death)		Term of officeTenurePartyMinistry
Peter Thorneycroft cropped.png Peter Thorneycroft
MP for Monmouth
(1909–1994) [8] 		1 April 196416 October 1964198 days Conservative Douglas-Home
Denis Healey.jpg Denis Healey
MP for Leeds East
(1917–2015) [9] 		16 October 196419 June 19705 years, 246 days Labour Wilson
(I & II)
Peter Carington 1984.jpg Peter Carrington
6th Baron Carrington
(1919–2018)		20 June 19708 January 19743 years, 202 days Conservative Heath
Ian Gilmour
MP for Central Norfolk
(1926–2007) [10] 		8 January 19744 March 197455 days Conservative
Roy Mason
MP for Barnsley
(1924–2015) [11] 		5 March 19749 September 19762 years, 188 days Labour Wilson
(III & IV)
Fred Mulley.PNG Fred Mulley
MP for Sheffield Park
(1918–1995) [12] 		10 September 19764 May 19792 years, 236 days Labour Callaghan
Francis Leslie Pym.jpg Francis Pym
MP for Cambridgeshire
(1922–2008) [13] 		5 May 19794 January 19811 year, 244 days Conservative Thatcher I
John Nott.jpg John Nott
MP for St Ives
(born 1932) [14] 		5 January 19815 January 19832 years, 0 days Conservative
Lord Heseltine (6969083278).jpg Michael Heseltine
MP for Henley
(born 1933) [15] 		6 January 19838 January 19863 years, 2 days Conservative Thatcher II
George Younger.JPEG George Younger
MP for Ayr
(1931–2003) [16] [17] 		9 January 198623 July 19893 years, 195 days Conservative
Thatcher III
Official portrait of Lord King of Bridgwater crop 2.jpg Tom King
MP for Bridgwater
(born 1933) [18] 		28 July 19899 April 19922 years, 256 days Conservative
Major I
Malcolm Rifkind 2011 (cropped).jpg Malcolm Rifkind
MP for Edinburgh Pentlands
(born 1946) [19] 		10 April 19924 July 19953 years, 85 days Conservative Major II
Michael Portillo by Regents College cropped.jpg Michael Portillo
MP for Enfield Southgate
(born 1953) [20] 		5 July 1995 2 May 1997 1 year, 301 days Conservative
Official portrait of Lord Robertson of Port Ellen 2020 crop 2.jpg George Robertson
MP for Hamilton South
(born 1946) [21] 		3 May 199711 October 19992 years, 161 days Labour Blair I
Geoff Hoon Headshot.jpg Geoff Hoon
MP for Ashfield
(born 1953) [22] 		11 October 19996 May 20055 years, 207 days Labour
Blair II
Official portrait of Lord Reid of Cardowan, 2020.jpg John Reid
MP for Airdrie and Shotts
(born 1947) [23] 		6 May 2005 5 May 2006 364 days Labour Blair III
Official portrait of Lord Browne of Ladyton crop 2, 2022.jpg Des Browne
MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun
(born 1952) [24] 		5 May 2006 3 October 20082 years, 151 days Labour
Brown
Msc 2009-Sunday, 11.00 - 12.30 Uhr-Zwez 005 Hutton detail.jpg John Hutton
MP for Barrow and Furness
(born 1955) [25] 		3 October 20085 June 2009245 days Labour
The Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP (4799292710).jpg Bob Ainsworth
MP for Coventry North East
(born 1952) [26] 		5 June 200911 May 2010340 days Labour
Official portrait of Dr Liam Fox crop 2.jpg Liam Fox
MP for North Somerset
(born 1961) [27] [28] 		12 May 201014 October 20111 year, 156 days Conservative Cameron–Clegg
( Con.–L.D. )
Official portrait of Mr Philip Hammond crop 2.jpg Philip Hammond
MP for Runnymede and Weybridge
(born 1955) [29] [30] 		14 October 2011 15 July 2014 2 years, 274 days Conservative
Official portrait of Sir Michael Fallon crop 2.jpg Michael Fallon
MP for Sevenoaks
(born 1952) [31] [32] 		15 July 2014 1 November 2017 3 years, 109 days Conservative
Cameron II
May I
May II
Official portrait of Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP crop 2.jpg Gavin Williamson
MP for South Staffordshire
(born 1976) [33] [34] 		2 November 2017 1 May 2019 1 year, 180 days Conservative
Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt.jpg Penny Mordaunt
MP for Portsmouth North
(born 1973) [35] [36] 		1 May 2019 24 July 201984 days Conservative
Official portrait of Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP crop 2.jpg Ben Wallace
MP for Wyre and Preston North
(born 1970) [37] [38] 		24 July 201931 August 20234 years, 38 days Conservative Johnson I
Johnson II
Truss
Sunak
Official portrait of Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP crop 2.jpg Grant Shapps
MP for Welwyn Hatfield
(born 1968) [39] 		31 August 20235 July 2024309 days Conservative
John Healey Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg John Healey
MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
(born 1960)		5 July 2024Incumbent61 days Labour Starmer

Timeline

John Healey (politician)Grant ShappsBen Wallace (politician)Penny MordauntGavin WilliamsonMichael FallonPhilip HammondLiam FoxBob AinsworthJohn Hutton, Baron Hutton of FurnessDes BrowneJohn Reid, Baron Reid of CardowanGeoff HoonGeorge Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port EllenMichael PortilloMalcom RifkindTom KingGeorge YoungerMichael HeseltineJohn NottFrancis PymFred MulleyRoy MasonIan GilmourPeter Carrington, 6th Baron CarringtonDenis HealeyPeter ThorneycraftHarold WatkinsonDuncan SandysAntony HeadWalter MoncktonSelwyn LloydHarold MacmillanHarold AlexanderEmanuel ShinwellA. V. AlexanderClement AttleeWinston ChurchillErnle ChatfieldThomas InskipSecretary of State for Defence

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References

  1. ↑ "Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23" (PDF). 15 December 2022.
  2. ↑ "Pay and expenses for MPs". parliament.uk. Retrieved 15 December 2022.
  3. ↑ "Secretary of State for Defence". gov.uk . Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  4. ↑ "Penny Mordaunt - the UK's first female defence secretary". BBC News. 2 May 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2021. Penny Mordaunt has become the UK's first female defence secretary after Gavin Williamson was sacked.
  5. ↑ "Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, faces questioning from Defence Committee". parliament.uk. 18 June 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  6. ↑ "Ministerial Appointments: July 2024". GOV.UK. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. ↑ "Secretary of State for Defence - GOV.UK". www.gov.uk.
  8. ↑ "Mr Peter Thorneycroft". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) . Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  9. ↑ "Lord Healey". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  10. ↑ "Lord Gilmour of Craigmillar". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  11. ↑ "Lord Mason of Barnsley". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  12. ↑ "Lord Mulley". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  13. ↑ "Lord Pym". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  14. ↑ "Rt Hon Sir John Nott". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  15. ↑ "Lord Heseltine". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  16. ↑ "Rt Hon Sir George Younger". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  17. ↑ George Jones (27 January 2003). "Thatcher's ally George Younger dies at 71" . The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 12 January 2022. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  18. ↑ "Lord King of Bridgwater". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  19. ↑ "Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  20. ↑ "Rt Hon Michael Portillo". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  21. ↑ "Lord Robertson of Port Ellen". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  22. ↑ "Mr Geoffrey Hoon". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  23. ↑ "Lord Reid of Cardowan". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  24. ↑ "Lord Browne of Ladyton". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  25. ↑ "Lord Hutton of Furness". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  26. ↑ "Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  27. ↑ "Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  28. ↑ "Who's who in the coalition cabinet". The Guardian. 13 May 2010. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  29. ↑ "Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  30. ↑ "Liam Fox quits as defence secretary". BBC News. 14 October 2011. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  31. ↑ "Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  32. ↑ "Reshuffle at-a-glance: In, out and moved about". BBC News. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 3 November 2017.
  33. ↑ "Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  34. ↑ "Gavin Williamson replaces Michael Fallon as defence secretary". BBC News. 2 November 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2017.
  35. ↑ "Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  36. ↑ "Gavin Williamson sacked over Huawei leak". 1 May 2019. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  37. ↑ "Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP". UK Parliament. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  38. ↑ "Ben Wallace Named New Defence Secretary". Forces Network. 24 July 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  39. ↑ "Grant Shapps". UK Parliament. Retrieved 2 September 2023.
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