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Secretary of State for Defence
Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom
Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| post | United Kingdom | |
| Secretary of State for Defence | ||
| insignia | Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg | |
| insigniacaption | Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government | |
| flag | Flag of the British Secretary of State for Defence.svg | |
| flagcaption | Flag of the Secretary of State for Defence | |
| image | File:John Healey Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped).jpg | |
| incumbent | John Healey | |
| incumbentsince | 5 July 2024 | |
| department | Ministry of Defence | |
| style | ||
| type | Minister of the Crown | |
| status | Secretary of State | |
| member_of | {{plainlist | |
| reports_to | The Prime Minister | |
| seat | Westminster | |
| nominator | The Prime Minister | |
| appointer | The Monarch | |
| appointer_qualified | (on the advice of the Prime Minister) | |
| termlength | At His Majesty's pleasure | |
| constituting_instrument | [Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964](https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/15) section 1(1)(a) | |
| precursor | ||
| formation | 1 April 1964 | |
| first | Peter Thorneycroft | |
| salary | £159,038 per annum (2022) | |
| (including £86,584 MP salary) | ||
| website | ||
| deputy | Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry |
Secretary of State for Defence
- Cabinet
- Privy Council
- National Security Council
- Defence Council
- Admiralty Board
- Army Board
- Air Force Board}} (including £86,584 MP salary) 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. As a senior minister, the incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom.
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.
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.
The current secretary of state for defence is John Healey, who was appointed on 5 July 2024 following the 2024 United Kingdom general election.
Responsibilities
In contrast to what is generally known as a defence minister in many other countries, the Defence Secretary's remit includes:
- Strategic military and defensive operations. The postholder is a member of the National Security Council, and chair of the Defence Council, to which the monarch has given the power to command the Armed Forces.
- Oversight of Defence Intelligence
- Relations with international partnerships, including NATO
- Defence policy (Trident nuclear weapons programme), resourcing and planning
- Communications on defence
History
Minister for Co-ordination of Defence (1936–1940)
Main article: Minister for Co-ordination of Defence
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.
| Minister | Term of office | Party | Ministry | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative Party (UK)}}" | [[File:Thomas_Inskip.jpg | 110px]] | **Thomas Inskip**MP for Fareham(1876–1947) | 13 March 1936 | |
| Chamberlain I | |||||
| Independent (politician)}}" | [[File:Echatfield.jpg | 110px]] | **Ernle Chatfield**1st Baron Chatfield(1873–1967) | 29 January 1939 | |
| Chamberlain War |
Minister of Defence (1940–1964)
Main article: Ministry of Defence (1947–1964), Minister of Defence (United Kingdom)
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.
| Portrait | Name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (birth–death) | Term of office | Tenure | Political party | Ministry | Took office | Left office | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Independent (politician)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | ||||||||||||
| [[File:Churchill1944.png | 110px]] | **Winston Churchill**MP for Epping(1874–1965) | 10 May 1940 | 27 July 1945 | Conservative | Churchill War | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Churchill Caretaker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Attlee_BW_cropped.jpg | 110px]] | **Clement Attlee**MP for Limehouse(1883–1967) | 27 July 1945 | 20 December 1946 | Labour | Attlee I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Labour Co-operative}}" | [[File:INF3-62_A_V_Alexander_Artist's_signature_E_A_B.jpg | 110px]] | **A. V. Alexander**MP for Sheffield Hillsborough(1885–1965) | 20 December 1946 | 28 February 1950 | Labour Co-op | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Emanuel_Shinwel_HU_059765_(crop).jpg | 110px]] | **Emanuel Shinwell**MP for Easington(1884–1986) | 28 February 1950 | 26 October 1951 | Labour | Attlee II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Churchill_portrait_NYP_45063.jpg | 110px]] | **Winston Churchill**MP for Woodford(1874–1965) | 28 October 1951 | 1 March 1952 | Conservative | Churchill III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Sir_Harold_Alexander_026065.jpg | 157x157px]] | **Harold Alexander** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis(1891–1969) | 1 March 1952 | 18 October 1954 | Independent | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Harold_Macmillan_in_1942.jpg | 135x135px]] | **Harold Macmillan**MP for Bromley(1894–1986) | 18 October 1954 | 7 April 1955 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:SelwynLloyd1960.jpg | 147x147px]] | **Selwyn Lloyd**MP for The Wirral(1904–1978) | 7 April 1955 | 20 December 1955 | Conservative | Eden | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Sir_Walter_Monckton,_January_1942_IWM_A_6697_(cropped).jpg | 127x127px]] | **Walter Monckton**MP for Bristol West(1891–1965) | 20 December 1955 | 18 October 1956 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Blank.png | 60x60px]] | **Antony Head**MP for Carshalton(1906–1983) | 18 October 1956 | 9 January 1957 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Sandys_1944_cropped.jpg | 135x135px]] | **Duncan Sandys**MP for Streatham(1906–1987) | 13 January 1957 | 14 October 1959 | Conservative | Macmillan I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Blank.png | 60x60px]] | **Harold Watkinson**MP for Woking(1910–1995) | 14 October 1959 | 13 July 1962 | Conservative | Macmillan II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Peter_Thorneycroft_cropped.png | 138x138px]] | **Peter Thorneycroft** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Monmouth(1909–1994) | 13 July 1962 | 1 April 1964 | 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).
| Portrait | Name | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| (birth–death) | Term of office | Tenure | Party | Ministry | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}; border-bottom:solid 1px " height=37 | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}; border-bottom:solid 1px " height=37 | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Conservative Party (UK)}}" | Labour Party (UK)}}" | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Peter Thorneycroft cropped.png | 110px]] | **Peter Thorneycroft** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Monmouth | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1909–1994) | 1 April 1964 | 16 October 1964 | Conservative | Douglas-Home | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Denis Healey.jpg | 110px]] | **Denis Healey** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Leeds East | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1917–2015) | 16 October 1964 | 19 June 1970 | Labour | Wilson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (I & II) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Peter Carington 1984.jpg | 110px]] | **Peter Carington** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6th **Baron Carrington** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1919–2018) | 20 June 1970 | 8 January 1974 | Conservative | Heath | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Ian Gilmour** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Central Norfolk | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1926–2007) | 8 January 1974 | 4 March 1974 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Roy Mason** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Barnsley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1924–2015) | 5 March 1974 | 9 September 1976 | Labour | Wilson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (III & IV) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Fred Mulley.PNG | 110px]] | **Fred Mulley** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Sheffield Park | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1918–1995) | 10 September 1976 | 4 May 1979 | Labour | Callaghan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Francis Leslie Pym.jpg | 110px]] | **Francis Pym** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Cambridgeshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1922–2008) | 5 May 1979 | 4 January 1981 | Conservative | Thatcher I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:John Nott 02 (cropped).jpg | 110px]] | **John Nott** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for St Ives | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1932–2024) | 5 January 1981 | 5 January 1983 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Meeting of the Kangaroo group in December 1988 with British MP Michael HESELTINE 2 (cropped).jpg | 146x146px]] | **Michael Heseltine** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Henley | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1933) | 6 January 1983 | 8 January 1986 | Conservative | Thatcher II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Conservative Party (UK)}}" | [[File:George Younger.JPEG | 110px]] | **George Younger** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Ayr | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (1931–2003) | 9 January 1986 | 23 July 1989 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Thatcher III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Official portrait of Lord King of Bridgwater crop 2.jpg | 110px]] | **Tom King** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Bridgwater | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1933) | 28 July 1989 | 9 April 1992 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Major I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Malcolm Rifkind 2011 (cropped).jpg | 110px]] | **Malcolm Rifkind** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Edinburgh Pentlands | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1946) | 10 April 1992 | 4 July 1995 | Conservative | Major II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Michael_Portillo_(cropped).jpg | 132x132px]] | **Michael Portillo** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Enfield Southgate | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1953) | 5 July 1995 | 2 May 1997 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Defense.gov News Photo 980603-D-9880W-177 (cropped).jpg | 145x145px]] | **George Robertson** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Hamilton South | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1946) | 3 May 1997 | 11 October 1999 | Labour | Blair I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Geoff Hoon Headshot.jpg | 110px]] | **Geoff Hoon** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Ashfield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1953) | 11 October 1999 | 6 May 2005 | Labour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blair II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:ReidTaormina_crop.jpg | frameless | 148x148px]] | **John Reid** | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Airdrie and Shotts | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1947) | 6 May 2005 | [5 May 2006](2006-british-cabinet-reshuffle) | Labour | Blair III | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Browne and gates (cropped).jpg | 146x146px]] | **Des Browne** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1952) | [5 May 2006](2006-british-cabinet-reshuffle) | 3 October 2008 | Labour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Brown | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Msc 2009-Sunday, 11.00 - 12.30 Uhr-Zwez 005 Hutton detail.jpg | 110px]] | **John Hutton** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Barrow and Furness | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1955) | 3 October 2008 | 5 June 2009 | Labour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:The Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP (4799292710).jpg | 110px]] | **Bob Ainsworth** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Coventry North East | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1952) | 5 June 2009 | 11 May 2010 | Labour | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Liam Fox MP (cropped).jpg | 146x146px]] | **Liam Fox** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for North Somerset | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1961) | 12 May 2010 | 14 October 2011 | Conservative | Cameron–Clegg | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (*Con.–L.D.*) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Meeting at the Pentagon 130502-M-EV637-528 (cropped).jpg | 146x146px]] | **Philip Hammond** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Runnymede and Weybridge | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1955) | 14 October 2011 | [15 July 2014](2014-british-cabinet-reshuffle) | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Michael Fallon February 2015.jpg | 110px]] | **Michael Fallon** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Sevenoaks | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1952) | [15 July 2014](2014-british-cabinet-reshuffle) | 1 November 2017 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cameron II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| May I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| May II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP crop 2.jpg | 110px]] | **Gavin Williamson** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for South Staffordshire | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1976) | 2 November 2017 | 1 May 2019 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt.jpg | 110px]] | **Penny Mordaunt** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Portsmouth North | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1973) | 1 May 2019 | 24 July 2019 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP crop 2.jpg | 110px]] | **Ben Wallace** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Wyre and Preston North | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1970) | 24 July 2019 | 31 August 2023 | Conservative | Johnson I | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Johnson II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Truss | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sunak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:BEIS Secretary Grant Shapps visit to The UAE (52625570593) (cropped).jpg | 146x146px]] | **Grant Shapps** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Welwyn Hatfield | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1968) | 31 August 2023 | 5 July 2024 | Conservative | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [[File:John Healey Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg | 146x146px]] | **John Healey** | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (born 1960) | 5 July 2024 | *Incumbent* | Labour | Starmer |
Timeline
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bar:Inskip from: 13/03/1936 till: 29/01/1939 color:Conservative text:"Thomas Inskip" bar:Chatfield from: 29/01/1939 till: 03/04/1940 color:Independent text:"Ernle Chatfield" bar:Churchill from: 10/05/1940 till: 27/07/1945 color:Conservative from: 29/10/1951 till: 01/03/1952 color:Conservative text:"Winston Churchill" bar:Attlee from: 27/07/1945 till: 20/12/1946 color:Labour text:"Clement Attlee" bar:Alexander from: 20/12/1946 till: 28/02/1950 color:Labour text:"A. V. Alexander" bar:Shinwell from: 28/02/1950 till: 26/10/1951 color:Labour text:"Emanuel Shinwell" bar:Tunis from: 01/03/1952 till: 18/10/1954 color:Independent text:"Harold Alexander" bar:Macmillan from: 18/10/1954 till: 07/04/1955 color:Conservative text:"Harold Macmillan" bar:LLoyd from: 07/04/1955 till: 20/12/1955 color:Conservative text:"Selwyn Lloyd" bar:Monckton from: 20/12/1955 till: 18/10/1956 color:Conservative text:"Walter Monckton" bar:Head from: 18/10/1956 till: 09/01/1957 color:Conservative text:"Antony Head" bar:Sandys from: 13/01/1957 till: 14/10/1959 color:Conservative text:"Duncan Sandys" bar:Watkinson from: 14/10/1959 till: 13/07/1962 color:Conservative text:"Harold Watkinson" bar:Thorneycroft from: 13/07/1962 till: 16/10/1964 color:Conservative text:"Peter Thorneycraft" bar:Healey from: 16/10/1964 till: 19/06/1970 color:Labour text:"Denis Healey" bar:Carrington from: 20/06/1970 till: 08/01/1974 color:Conservative text:"Peter Carrington" bar:Gilmour from: 08/01/1974 till: 04/03/1974 color:Conservative text:"Ian Gilmour" bar:Mason from: 05/03/1974 till: 09/09/1976 color:Labour text:"Roy Mason" bar:Mulley from: 10/09/1976 till: 04/05/1979 color:Labour text:"Fred Mulley" bar:Pym from: 05/05/1979 till: 04/01/1981 color:Conservative text:"Francis Pym" bar:Nott from: 05/01/1981 till: 05/01/1983 color:Conservative text:"John Nott" bar:Heseltine from: 06/01/1983 till: 08/01/1986 color:Conservative text:"Michael Heseltine" bar:Younger from: 09/01/1986 till: 23/07/1989 color:Conservative text:"George Younger" bar:King from: 28/07/1989 till: 09/04/1992 color:Conservative text:"Tom King" bar:Rifkind from: 10/04/1992 till: 04/07/1995 color:Conservative text:"Malcom Rifkind" bar:Portillo from: 05/07/1995 till: 02/05/1997 color:Conservative text:"Michael Portillo" bar:Robertson from: 03/05/1997 till: 11/10/1999 color:Labour text:"George Robertson" bar:Hoon from: 11/10/1999 till: 06/05/2005 color:Labour text:"Geoff Hoon" bar:Reid from: 06/05/2005 till: 05/05/2006 color:Labour text:"John Reid" bar:Browne from: 05/05/2006 till: 03/10/2008 color:Labour text:"Des Browne" bar:Hutton from: 03/10/2008 till: 05/06/2009 color:Labour text:"John Hutton" bar:Ainsworth from: 05/06/2009 till: 11/05/2010 color:Labour text:"Bob Ainsworth" bar:Fox from: 12/05/2010 till: 14/10/2011 color:Conservative text:"Liam Fox" bar:Hammond from: 14/10/2011 till: 15/07/2014 color:Conservative text:"Philip Hammond" bar:Fallon from: 15/07/2014 till: 01/11/2017 color:Conservative text:"Michael Fallon" bar:Williamson from: 02/11/2017 till: 01/05/2019 color:Conservative text:"Gavin Williamson" bar:Mordaunt from: 01/05/2019 till: 24/07/2019 color:Conservative text:"Penny Mordaunt" bar:Wallace from: 24/07/2019 till: 31/08/2023 color:Conservative text:"Ben Wallace" bar:Shapps from: 31/08/2023 till: 05/07/2024 color:Conservative text:"Grant Shapps" bar:Healey2 from: 05/07/2024 till: $today color:Labour text:"John Healey"
References
References
- (15 December 2022). "Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23".
- "Pay and expenses for MPs".
- "Secretary of State for Defence".
- (2 May 2019). "Penny Mordaunt - the UK's first female defence secretary". BBC News.
- (18 June 2021). "Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, faces questioning from Defence Committee". parliament.uk.
- "Ministerial Appointments: July 2024".
- "Secretary of State for Defence - GOV.UK".
- "Mr Peter Thorneycroft".
- "Lord Healey". UK Parliament.
- "Lord Gilmour of Craigmillar". UK Parliament.
- "Lord Mason of Barnsley". UK Parliament.
- "Lord Mulley". UK Parliament.
- "Lord Pym". UK Parliament.
- "Rt Hon Sir John Nott". UK Parliament.
- "Lord Heseltine". UK Parliament.
- "Rt Hon Sir George Younger". UK Parliament.
- George Jones. (27 January 2003). "Thatcher's ally George Younger dies at 71". The Telegraph.
- "Lord King of Bridgwater". UK Parliament.
- "Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC". UK Parliament.
- "Rt Hon Michael Portillo". UK Parliament.
- "Lord Robertson of Port Ellen". UK Parliament.
- "Mr Geoffrey Hoon". UK Parliament.
- "Lord Reid of Cardowan". UK Parliament.
- "Lord Browne of Ladyton". UK Parliament.
- "Lord Hutton of Furness". UK Parliament.
- "Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth". UK Parliament.
- "Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP". UK Parliament.
- (13 May 2010). "Who's who in the coalition cabinet". The Guardian.
- "Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP". UK Parliament.
- (14 October 2011). "Liam Fox quits as defence secretary". BBC News.
- "Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon MP". UK Parliament.
- (15 July 2014). "Reshuffle at-a-glance: In, out and moved about". BBC News.
- "Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP". UK Parliament.
- (2 November 2017). "Gavin Williamson replaces Michael Fallon as defence secretary". BBC News.
- "Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP". UK Parliament.
- (2019-05-01). "Gavin Williamson sacked over Huawei leak".
- "Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP". UK Parliament.
- (24 July 2019). "Ben Wallace Named New Defence Secretary".
- "Grant Shapps". UK Parliament.
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