Desmond Swayne

Desmond Swayne was born on 20 August 1956 in Bern, the capital of Switzerland, to George Joseph and Elizabeth McAlister Swayne (née Gibson).{{cite book|url=https://www.ukwhoswho.com/view/10.1093/ww/9780199540884.001.0001/ww-9780199540884-e-36810|publisher=A & C Black|access-date=23 October 2019|title=Swayne, Rt Hon. Sir Desmond (Angus)|doi=10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U36810|isbn=978-0-19-954088-4}} He was privately educated at Drumley House Preparatory School at Mossblown in South Ayrshire and Bedford School. He studied Theology at St Mary's College at the University of St Andrews.{{cite news|url=http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/New+Forest+West/Desmond+Swayne|title=Desmond Swayne|newspaper=The Daily Telegraph|access-date=14 July 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306092438/http://ukpolitics.telegraph.co.uk/New%2BForest%2BWest/Desmond%2BSwayne|archive-date=6 March 2012}}

Swayne taught economics at Charterhouse School for one year followed by seven years at Wrekin College (both independent boarding schools).{{cite book|first1=Robert|last1=Waller|first2=Byron|last2=Criddle|title=The Almanac of British Politics|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=9mC7pEr0R6QC&pg=PA502|year=1999|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-415-18541-7|page=502}} On 22 November 1986, as a prospective parliamentary candidate for a South Wales constituency, he was quoted in the Western Mail saying that "the surest way to protect the public from AIDS is to outlaw homosexuality and lock up offenders".{{Cite web|url=https://gtmediawatch.org/1970/07/01/gay-times-january-1987/|title=Gay Times 100, January 1987|date=1 July 1970}} From 1987 to 1997, he was a computer systems manager at Royal Bank of Scotland.

On 2 August 1987, Swayne was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps, Territorial Army in the rank of second lieutenant (on probation).{{London Gazette |issue=51115 |date=9 November 1987 |page=13839 |supp=y }} He served with the Queen's Own Mercian Yeomanry.{{London Gazette |issue=51609 |date=9 January 1989 |page=328 |supp=y }} He was promoted to lieutenant on 2 August 1989,{{London Gazette |issue=51890 |date=2 October 1989 |page=11305 |supp=y }} and to captain on 1 August 1992.{{London Gazette |issue=53054 |date=21 September 1992 |page=15840 |supp=y }} On 1 November 1992, Swayne transferred to the newly formed Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry.{{London Gazette |issue=53192 |date=1 February 1993 |page=1866 |supp=y }} He was promoted to major on 14 December 1996 with seniority from 1 January 1996.{{London Gazette |issue=54718 |date=27 March 1997 |page=3878 |supp=y }}

In 2003, he was called up and posted to Iraq as part of the Iraq War.{{cite news|title=MP to serve in Iraq|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3004920.stm|access-date=5 August 2014|work=BBC News|date=19 June 2003}} He served for six months before returning to the House of Commons.

At the 1987 general election, Swayne stood as the Conservative Party candidate in Pontypridd, coming second with 19.5% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Brynmor John.{{cite web |title=Election Data 1987 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054243/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}The Times House of Commons Guide June 1987, The Times Newspapers Ltd, Golden Square Page 187

Swayne again stood for Parliament at the 1992 general election in West Bromwich West, coming second with 35.5% of the vote behind the incumbent Labour MP Betty Boothroyd.{{cite web |title=Election Data 1992 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}{{cite web |date=9 April 1992 |title=UK General Election results April 1992 |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/i21.htm |access-date=2010-12-06 |work=Richard Kimber's Political Science Resources |publisher=Politics Resources}}

Swayne was elected to Parliament as MP for New Forest West at the 1997 general election with 50.6% of the vote and a majority of 11,332.{{cite web |title=Election Data 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} In the subsequent Conservative Party leadership election, Swayne supported Michael Howard, and later John Redwood.

From 1997 to 2001, he held shadow ministerial portfolios for Northern Ireland, health and defence and as a senior opposition whip. In September 2004, Swayne was appointed Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition.https://www.newspapers.com/image/753231643/

At the 2001 general election, Swayne was re-elected as MP for New Forest West with an increased vote share of 55.7% and an increased majority of 13,191.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} He was again re-elected at the 2005 general election with an increased vote share of 56.4% and an increased majority of 17,285.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}}

Following the election of David Cameron as leader of the Conservative Party in December 2005, Swayne was appointed as his PPS. In 2006, a series of Swayne's e-mails to Cameron with unflattering descriptions of fellow Conservatives was leaked to the media.{{cite news |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article685090.ece |title=Tories lost in swirl of backbiting |author=Oakeshott, Isabel |work=The Times |date=9 July 2006 |access-date=15 July 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}

As a result of the expenses scandal, Swayne repaid the £6,131 that he claimed for a new kitchen at his second-home flat in North Kensington in 2006, and £60.66 over claimed for a water bill.{{cite news |date=29 June 2009 |title="Politicians should rely on taxpayer" says New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne |url=http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/4463577.MP_defends_right_to_have_second_job/ |access-date=15 July 2010 |work=This is Hampshire}} Swayne employs his wife Moira as part-time Executive Secretary/Office Manager.{{cite news |title=Desmond Swayne |url=http://parliament.telegraph.co.uk/mpsexpenses/mp-details/Desmond-Swayne/mp-10580 |access-date=15 July 2010 |work=The Daily Telegraph}} Swayne provided a full breakdown of his expenses on his website, and was found by local media in South Dorset to be the lowest claiming of the local MP expenses' league table, after claiming £94,754 expenses in 2007/08, compared with £91,737 in 2006/07.{{cite news |date=15 May 2009 |title=What is the cost of our MPs? |url=http://www.thisisdorset.net/news/tidnews/4370313.What_is_the_cost_of_our_MPs_/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928061818/http://www.thisisdorset.net/news/tidnews/4370313.What_is_the_cost_of_our_MPs_/ |archive-date=28 September 2011 |access-date=15 July 2010 |work=Dorset Echo}}

In addition to his salary as an MP, in 2009 Swayne reportedly earned £12,000 a year as a director of property development firm Lewis Charles Sofia Property Fund, which predominantly specialises in holiday developments in Bulgaria; and around £5,000 in his role as a major in the Army Reserve.

At the 2010 general election, Swayne was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 58.8% and a decreased majority of 16,896.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} After the election, Swayne maintained his role as a PPS in government.[http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/11/government-publishes-list-of-parliamentary-private-secretaries-57099 Government publishes list of Parliamentary Private Secretaries (PPS)] Prime Minister's Office, 17 November 2010

On 11 June 2011, it was announced Swayne would be appointed a Privy Counsellor in the Queen's 2011 Birthday Honours List.{{London Gazette |issue=59808 |date=11 June 2011 |page=1 |supp=y}} On 13 July 2011, Swayne was duly sworn in as member of Council.[http://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/orders-13july2011.pdf Privy Council Office — Orders for 13 July 2011] Privy Council, 13 July 2011 In 2014, he was appointed as a minister for international development.{{cite news|title=Who is Desmond Swayne? Introducing Britain's new development minister|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jul/16/cabinet-reshuffle-desmond-swayne-dfid|access-date=7 April 2015|work=The Guardian|date=16 July 2014}}

In the Commons he sits on the Ecclesiastical Committee (Joint Committee). He has previously sat on the International Trade Committee, the Administration Committee, the Defence Committee, the Procedure Committee, the Social Security Committee and Scottish Affairs Committee.{{cite web|title=Desmond Swayne |url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/sir-desmond-swayne/55|website=Parliament UK|access-date=2 October 2018}}

At the 2015 general election, Swayne was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 59.9% and an increased majority of 20,604.{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=Electoral Calculus}} He was again re-elected at the snap 2017 general election with an increased vote share of 66.8% and an increased majority of 23,431.{{cite news |title=New Forest West Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000828 |access-date=26 November 2019 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}File:150 Years of International Humanitarian Law- The UK Perspective (15658741882).jpg David Bernstein at the 150 Years of International Humanitarian Law: The UK Perspective event in London on 29 October 2014.]]

On 28 September 2019, Swayne remarked that "blackface" was an "entirely acceptable bit of fun".{{cite news|last1=Swayne|first1=Desmond|date=28 September 2019|title=Blackface is an 'entirely acceptable bit of fun', says Conservative MP|work=MSN UK|url=https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/blackface-is-an-entirely-acceptable-bit-of-fun-says-conservative-mp/ar-AAHWScN?li=BBS2yio|url-status=dead|access-date=28 September 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190929112522/https://www.msn.com/en-nz/news/world/blackface-is-an-entirely-acceptable-bit-of-fun-says-conservative-mp/ar-AAHWScN%3Fli%3DBBS2yio|archive-date=29 September 2019}} On 30 September, it was reported that he wore blackface while attending a Blues Brothers themed party, where he was pictured posing as James Brown.{{Cite news|last1=Ward|first1=Victoria|last2=Hope|first2=Christopher|date=30 September 2019|title=Exclusive picture: Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne 'blacked up' as soul singer James Brown|language=en-GB|work=The Telegraph|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2019/09/30/tory-mp-sir-desmond-swayne-pictured-blacked-soul-singer-james/|access-date=1 October 2019|issn=0307-1235}} Swayne said he "went to some trouble to be as authentic as possible" in creating the costume. After initially declining to apologise, Swayne later said he was sorry for any offence that he gave.{{Cite web|title=Trudeau's Turban|url=https://www.desmondswaynemp.com/ds-blog/trudeaus-turban/|access-date=1 October 2019|website=www.desmondswaynemp.com}}

At the 2019 general election, Swayne was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 63.8% and an increased majority of 24,403.{{cite news |title=New Forest West Parliamentary constituency |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000828 |access-date=26 November 2019 |website=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}

In June 2020, responding to a question about the policing of protests following the police murder of George Floyd in the US, Swayne said "looters, arsonists and rioters have it coming".[https://www.standard.co.uk/news/world/desmond-swayne-george-floyd-rioters-blackface-a4459756.html Tory MP who once refused to apologise for wearing blackface says US 'looters have it coming'], Evening Standard. 4 June 2020.

On 18 August 2021, Swayne suggested in Parliament that Afghan refugees should have been joining "the resistance" against a brutal regime rather than "queuing at the airport" after the fall of Kabul.{{cite news |last1=Forrest |first1=Adam |title=Tory MP criticises Afghans for 'queuing at the airport' and fleeing Taliban |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/afghanistan-taliban-tory-mp-airport-b1904519.html |access-date=17 November 2022 |work=The Independent |date=18 August 2021 |language=en}}

Swayne was again re-elected at the 2024 general election, with a decreased vote share of 35.4% and a decreased majority of 5,600.[https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001374 New Forest West]

Swayne has been critical of the UK government's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, especially the lockdown response after 24 March 2020. Swayne believes that the government should have taken a softer approach, including keeping shops and public spaces open as had the Swedish government, and that the government's lockdown measures and policies were disproportionate to the threat posed by the virus.

Speaking to parliament in July 2020, Swayne described the Coronavirus law requiring the public to wear face masks in indoor public places as "a monstrous imposition", and said that it would make him less likely to go shopping.{{cite news |last1=Allegretti |first1=Aubrey |title=Coronavirus: Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne attacks face masks in shops order |url=https://news.sky.com/story/coronavirus-tory-mp-sir-desmond-swayne-attacks-face-masks-in-shops-order-12028541 |access-date=28 January 2021 |work=Sky News |date=14 July 2020 |language=en}} In a television interview in December 2020 he called for the health and scientific lobby to be "put in its place" and said: "they cannot go on telling us how we must live our lives forever."{{Cite news|title='Growing frustration and anger about being told how we must behave and what we must do' – Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne|language=en|website=Channel 4 News|url=https://www.channel4.com/news/growing-frustration-and-anger-about-being-told-how-we-must-behave-and-what-we-must-do-tory-mp-sir-desmond-swayne|date=15 December 2020}}

In a speech in parliament on 28 September 2020, Swayne stated that "the policy of the government has been disproportionate in response to this threat. There may be a virus one day that threatens our very way of life, but this is not it, even if we are behaving as if it were." Furthermore, he argued that the government had been following the advice of small group of scientists without doing their job as politicians and imposing "a sense of proportion" and "not be in thrall" of science.{{cite news|last=Deacon|first=Michael|date=28 September 2020|title='Project Fear!' How a Tory MP silenced the Commons with a furious rebuke of Whitty and Vallance|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2020/09/28/project-fear-tory-mp-silenced-commons-furious-rebuke-whitty/|access-date=3 October 2020|website=Daily Telegraph}}{{Cite web|last=Waller|first=Jon|date=2 October 2020|title=MP Swayne calls to sack government scientists' over coronavirus warning 'project fear'|url=https://www.advertiserandtimes.co.uk/swayne-coronavirus-warning|access-date=3 October 2020}}

Swayne believes that there has been "censorship" of opposing arguments or criticisms of the lockdown policies. On 15 October 2020 Swayne asked the Leader of the House of Commons if a debate could be held on censorship due to "the sinister disappearance of the link from Google to the Great Barrington declaration".{{Citation|first=Sir Desmond |last=Swayne |title=Business of the House – Hansard|date=13 October 2020|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-10-15/debates/5D02B80E-6479-4783-BAF7-84C0E9A01AE7/BusinessOfTheHouse|website=Hansard|others=volume 682; column 513|quote=Can we have a debate on censorship? Then we would be able to discuss the sinister disappearance of the link from Google to the Great Barrington declaration, couldn't we?|access-date=17 October 2020}}{{Citation|first=Jacob |last=Rees-Mogg|title=Business of the House – Hansard|date=13 October 2020|url=https://hansard.parliament.uk/Commons/2020-10-15/debates/5D02B80E-6479-4783-BAF7-84C0E9A01AE7/BusinessOfTheHouse|website=Hansard|others=volume 682; column 513|quote=My right hon. Friend is absolutely right to raise the question of censorship. The Government are sceptical about the Barrington declaration, but that does not mean that people should not be free to discuss it, and it is a worrying trend for large internet operators to think that they should be the arbiters of free speech. It is not for them to arbitrate over free speech. It is perhaps even more troubling that they are sometimes slow to take down material that could damage children, but they are not so slow to take down things that they do not agree with politically, and that raises important questions.|access-date=17 October 2020}}{{Cite news|title=Jacob Rees-Mogg condemns Welsh First Minister's 'unconstitutional' border plan|language=en|website=Helensburgh Advertiser|url=https://www.helensburghadvertiser.co.uk/news/national-news/18796664.jacob-rees-mogg-condemns-welsh-first-ministers-unconstitutional-border-plan/|access-date=17 October 2020}} He has donated money to anti-lockdown demonstration organiser Piers Corbyn who had been fined for his breaching lockdown regulations.[https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/tory-mp-sir-desmond-swaye-admitted-he-was-tempted-to-join-conspiracy-theorist-piers-corbyn-s-anti-lockdown-march-1.511359 Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne admitted he was 'tempted' to join conspiracy theorist Piers Corbyn's anti-lockdown march], Jewish Chronicle, 29 January 2021 13:19

It was reported in January 2021 that Swayne had said that some COVID-19 figures were being "manipulated", and that it was "difficult to reconcile" occupation levels of intensive care units with being "told there is a deathly, deadly pandemic proceeding". Swayne said that the NHS was "bouncing round at the typical level of deaths for the time of year", although at the time he spoke the Office for National Statistics was reporting deaths as 14% above the five-year average. The comments were made in a November 2020 interview with Save Our Rights, an anti-mask and anti-lockdown movement that had made false claims about COVID vaccines, during which Swayne urged the group to "persist" in its work. When questioned on the matter in January 2021, Swayne stated that "anyone who wants to talk to me about vaccines can consult my website or indeed my question I put to the Prime Minister yesterday [...] and you will see that you will see that I am the most enthusiastic vaxxer" and said that he "spoke to [Save Our Rights] exclusively about their campaign about lockdown because I share their objective. I'm against lockdown." Swayne's comments were criticised by the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), arguing such comments would "cost lives", and Deputy leader of the Labour Party Angela Rayner.{{cite news|last1=Chambre|first1=Aggie|date=28 January 2021|title=COVID-19: Tory MP Sir Desmond Swayne urged anti-vaxxers to 'persist' against COVID restrictions|work=Sky News|agency=Sky News|url=https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-tory-mp-sir-desmond-swayne-urged-anti-vaxxers-to-persist-against-covid-restrictions-12200667|access-date=28 January 2021}}

On 28 January 2021 the Minister for the Cabinet Office, Michael Gove, said that Swayne was "completely out of order" and should apologise.{{Cite news|last1=Bland|first1=Archie|last2=Quinn|first2=Ben|last3=Rawlinson|first3=Kevin|date=28 January 2021|title=Tories under growing pressure over MP who backed Covid deniers|language=en-GB|work=The Guardian|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/28/gove-refuses-to-back-action-against-tory-mp-over-covid-comment|access-date=28 January 2021|issn=0261-3077}}{{cite news |last1=Sheridan |first1=Danielle |title=Sir Desmond Swayne told to apologise after telling a coronavirus denying group to 'persist' with claims |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2021/01/28/sir-desmond-swayne-ordered-meet-scientific-advisers-completely/ |publisher=Telegraph Media Group Limited |date=28 January 2021}} On the same day, Swayne responded to these comments on Talkradio{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=|title=Interview by Juliet Hartley-Brewer on talkRADIO|work=|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7AW6PcKrbO8 |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/7AW6PcKrbO8| archive-date=2021-12-12|url-status=live|access-date=}}{{cbignore}} and Sky News.{{Cite news|last=|first=|date=|title=Interview of Desmond Swayne regarding Covid Interviews on Sky News|work=|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xujMsdSSx6E |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/xujMsdSSx6E| archive-date=2021-12-12|url-status=live|access-date=}}{{cbignore}} Angela Rayner urged action be taken against Swayne for endorsing conspiracy theories about COVID-19 and suggesting that the official figures had been manipulated, "a deeply dangerous claim for which there is absolutely no evidence". Swayne said that "we are getting very close to thought crime [...] that the deputy leader of the Labour Party is complaining about what another member of Parliament says and things as if this was some sort of criminal activity."{{Rp|10:51}}

Swayne said that "What really worries me is the grip the scientists still have on driving policy. The government needs to recognise that this is coming at a devastating cost. At some stage someone has to have a more realistic point of view."

In a 2021 interview with anti-vaccination filmmaker Del Bigtree, Swayne said that Britain had become "a police state" and accused the government of attempting to enact "social control". When questioned about this by Sky News, Swayne stated that he had never heard of Bigtree. In January 2021, Swayne was criticised by the Board of Deputies of British Jews for his 2020 appearance on The Richie Allen Show, which has been accused of anti-Semitism.{{cite web | title=Covid sceptic Sir Desmond Swayne in new storm for being on 'anti-Semitic' internet talk show | website=inews.co.uk | date=28 January 2021 | url=https://inews.co.uk/news/uk/sir-desmond-swayne-second-storm-anti-semitic-internet-talk-show-covid-19-849212 | access-date=29 January 2021}}[https://www.thejc.com/news/uk/cst-calls-for-conservatives-to-act-over-sir-desmond-swayne-1.511304 CST calls for Conservatives to act over Sir Desmond Swayne], Jewish Chronicle, 28 January 2021

In December 2021, Swayne was criticised for his arguments against compulsory vaccine passports, which included factually inaccurate comparisons between COVID deaths and those from flu and traffic accidents.{{cite web |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/desmond-swayne-vaccine-passports-omicron-b1976083.html |title=Desmond Swayne proves himself to be the Muhammad Ali of stupid – the stupidest of all time |date=15 December 2021 |website=The Independent |first=Tom |last=Peck |access-date=15 December 2021}} Swayne questioned whether the health measures were proportionate, characterising the Health Protection Agency as a "Ministry of Fear" and saying that he felt his government had "abandoned any principle of social democracy or liberal democracy".{{cite web |url=https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/desmond-swayne-rails-against-the-ministry-of-fear- |title=Desmond Swayne rails against the 'Ministry of Fear' |date=14 December 2021 |website=The Spectator |access-date=15 December 2021}}[https://www.theyworkforyou.com/debates/?id=2021-12-14a.937.0&s=speaker%3A10580#g968.0 Sir Desmond Swayne's Speech During Public Health Debate], TheyWorkForYou, 15 December 2021

Swayne married Moira Cecily Teek in 1987. They have one son and two daughters.{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2014/jul/16/cabinet-reshuffle-desmond-swayne-dfid|title=Who is Desmond Swayne? Introducing Britain's new development minister|work=The Guardian|date=16 July 2014|access-date=23 October 2019|last1=Bax|first1=Tahmeena|last2=Anyangwe|first2=Eliza}} He is a Christian and a member of Christians in Parliament.{{cite web|title=Rt Hon Sir Desmond Swayne MP|url=https://www.christiansinparliament.org.uk/about/members-stories/rt-hon-sir-desmond-swayne-mp/|access-date=19 November 2022|website=christiansinparliament.org.uk}}

Swayne is a recipient of the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal, the Iraq Medal, and the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal. He has also received the Territorial Decoration for 12 years' service in the Territorial Army. In June 2009, he was awarded the Volunteer Reserves Service Medal.{{London Gazette |issue=59106 |date=23 June 2009 |pages=10705–10706 |supp=y }}

Swayne was knighted in the 2016 Birthday Honours for political and parliamentary service.{{London Gazette|issue=61608 |supp=y|page=B2|date=11 June 2016}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{cite news | last=Quinn | first=Ben | title=Desmond Swayne: flamboyant Tory darling of the Covid deniers | work=The Guardian | date=28 January 2021 | url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/jan/28/desmond-swayne-flamboyant-tory-darling-of-the-covid-deniers | access-date=29 January 2021}}

{{Commons category}}

• [http://www.desmondswaynemp.com Desmond Swayne MP] Official site
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• [http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Swayne_Desmond.aspx Desmond Swayne MP Biography] Conservative Party
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Category:1956 births

Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom

Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs for English constituencies

Category:Alumni of the University of St Andrews

Category:UK MPs 1997–2001

Category:UK MPs 2001–2005

Category:UK MPs 2005–2010

Category:UK MPs 2010–2015

Category:UK MPs 2015–2017

Category:UK MPs 2017–2019

Category:UK MPs 2019–2024

Category:British Army personnel of the Iraq War

Category:Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry officers

Category:Living people

Category:People educated at Bedford School

Category:Parliamentary private secretaries to the prime minister

Category:Knights Bachelor

Category:British Eurosceptics

Category:Swedish military personnel

Category:20th-century British Army personnel

Category:UK MPs 2024–present