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secretary of State for Defence

{{Short description|Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom}}

{{For|the Spanish minister|Secretary of State for Defence (Spain)}}

{{EngvarB|date=November 2023}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}

{{Infobox official post

| post = {{small|United Kingdom}}
Secretary of State for Defence

| native_name =

| insignia = Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg

| insigniasize =

| insigniacaption = Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government

| insigniaalt =

| flag = Flag of the British Secretary of State for Defence.svg

| flagsize =

| flagalt =

| flagborder =

| flagcaption = Flag of the Secretary of State for Defence

| image = File:John Healey Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped).jpg

| alt =

| incumbent = John Healey

| incumbentsince = 5 July 2024

| department = Ministry of Defence

| style = {{ubl|Defence Secretary
{{small|(informal)}}|The Right Honourable
{{small|(within the UK and Commonwealth)}}|His Excellency
{{small|(diplomatic)}}}}

| type = Minister of the Crown

| status = Secretary of State

| member_of = {{plainlist|

| reports_to = The Prime Minister

| residence =

| seat = Westminster

| nominator = The Prime Minister

| appointer = The Monarch

| appointer_qualified = {{small|(on the advice of the Prime Minister)}}

| termlength = At His Majesty's pleasure

| constituting_instrument = [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/15 Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964] section 1(1)(a)

| precursor = {{ubl|Minister of Defence|Secretary of State for War|Secretary of State for Air|First Lord of the Admiralty}}

| formation = 1 April 1964

| first = Peter Thorneycroft

| salary = £159,038 per annum {{small|(2022)}}{{Cite web |title=Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1124173/2022-12-07-Ministerial-Salaries-22-23-table.pdf |date=15 December 2022}}
(including £86,584 MP salary){{Cite web |title=Pay and expenses for MPs |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/pay-mps/ |access-date=15 December 2022 |website=parliament.uk}}

| website = [https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-defence Defence Secretary]

}}

{{PoliticsUK}}

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.{{cite web|title=Secretary of State for Defence|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-defence|access-date=30 June 2021|website=gov.uk|language=}} 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.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41930719 |title=Penny Mordaunt - the UK's first female defence secretary |work=BBC News |date=2 May 2019 |access-date=10 June 2021 |quote=Penny Mordaunt has become the UK's first female defence secretary after Gavin Williamson was sacked.}}

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.{{cite web |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/24/defence-committee/news/156002/secretary-of-state-for-defence-ben-wallace-faces-questioning-from-defence-committee/ |title=Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, faces questioning from Defence Committee |work=parliament.uk |date=18 June 2021 |access-date=29 December 2021 |quote=}}

The current secretary of state for defence is John Healey, who was appointed on 5 July 2024 following the 2024 United Kingdom general election.{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: July 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2024 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}

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{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-defence|title=Secretary of State for Defence - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk}}

History

{{Principal political leaders of the British Armed Forces}}

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

{{main|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.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="3" |Minister

! colspan="2" |Term of office

!Party

!Ministry

style="height:1em"

| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan="2" |110px

| rowspan="2" |Thomas Inskip
{{small|MP for Fareham
(1876–1947)}}

| rowspan="2" |13 March 1936

| rowspan="2" |29 January 1939

| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |Conservative

| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |Baldwin III

style="height:1em"

| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |Chamberlain I

style="height:1em"

| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{Party color|Independent (politician)}}" |

| rowspan="2" |110px

| rowspan="2" |Ernle Chatfield
1st Baron Chatfield
{{Small|(1873–1967)}}

| rowspan="2" |29 January 1939

| rowspan="2" |3 April 1940

| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |Independent
(National)

{{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |Chamberlain War

=Minister of Defence (1940–1964)=

{{main|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.

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Portrait

! rowspan="2" |Name
{{Small|(birth–death)}}

! colspan="2" |Term of office

! rowspan="2" style="width:10px" |Tenure

! rowspan="2" |Political party

! rowspan="2" |Ministry

Took office

!Left office

rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan="2" |110px

| rowspan="2" |Winston Churchill
{{Small|MP for Epping
(1874–1965)}}

| rowspan="2" |10 May 1940

| rowspan="2" |27 July 1945

| rowspan="2" |{{ayd|1940|05|10|1945|07|27}}

| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |Churchill War

{{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |Churchill Caretaker
style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Clement Attlee
{{Small|MP for Limehouse
(1883–1967)}}

| 27 July 1945

| 20 December 1946

| {{ayd|1945|07|27|1946|12|20}}

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |Labour

| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |Attlee I

style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Co-operative}}" |

| 110px

| A. V. Alexander
MP for Sheffield Hillsborough
(1885–1965)

| 20 December 1946

| 28 February 1950

| {{ayd|1946|12|20|1950|02|28}}

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |Labour Co-op

style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Emanuel Shinwell
MP for Easington
(1884–1986)

| 28 February 1950

| 26 October 1951

| {{ayd|1950|02|28|1951|10|26}}

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Labour

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Attlee II

style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Winston Churchill
MP for Woodford
(1874–1965)

| 28 October 1951

| 1 March 1952

| {{ayd|1951|10|26|1952|03|01}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |Churchill III

style="background-color:{{Party color|Independent (politician)}}" |

| 157x157px

| Harold Alexander
1st Earl Alexander of Tunis
(1891–1969)

| 1 March 1952

| 18 October 1954

| {{ayd|1952|03|01|1954|10|18}}

| {{Party shading/Independent (politician)}} | Independent

style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 135x135px

| Harold Macmillan
MP for Bromley
(1894–1986)

| 18 October 1954

| 7 April 1955

| {{ayd|1954|10|18|1955|04|07}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 147x147px

| Selwyn Lloyd
MP for The Wirral
(1904–1978)

| 7 April 1955

| 20 December 1955

| {{ayd|1955|04|07|1955|12|20}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |Eden

style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

|127x127px

|Walter Monckton
MP for Bristol West
(1891–1965)

|20 December 1955

|18 October 1956

|{{ayd|1955|12|20|1956|10|18}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

|60x60px

|Antony Head
MP for Carshalton
(1906–1983)

|18 October 1956

|9 January 1957

|{{ayd|1956|10|18|1957|01|09}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

|135x135px

|Duncan Sandys
MP for Streatham
(1906–1987)

|13 January 1957

|14 October 1959

|{{ayd|1957|01|13|1959|10|14}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |Macmillan I

style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

|60x60px

|Harold Watkinson
MP for Woking
(1910–1995)

|14 October 1959

|13 July 1962

|{{ayd|1959|10|14|1962|07|13}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |Macmillan II

rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan="2" |138x138px

| rowspan="2" |Peter Thorneycroft
MP for Monmouth
(1909–1994)

| rowspan="2" |13 July 1962

| rowspan="2" |1 April 1964

| rowspan="2" |{{ayd|1962|07|13|1964|04|01}}

| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

{{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |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)

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"

|+Secretary of State for Defence

! colspan=2 | Portrait

! Name
{{Small|(birth–death)}}

! colspan=2 | Term of office

! style="width:10px" | Tenure

! Party

! Ministry

style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Peter Thorneycroft
{{Small|MP for Monmouth
(1909–1994)}}{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-peter-thorneycroft/index.html |title=Mr Peter Thorneycroft |website=Parliamentary Debates (Hansard) |access-date=2 November 2017}}

| 1 April 1964

| 16 October 1964

| {{Age in years and days|1 April 1964|16 October 1964}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Douglas-Home

style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Denis Healey
{{Small|MP for Leeds East
(1917–2015)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-healey/979 |title=Lord Healey |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}

| 16 October 1964

| 19 June 1970

| {{Age in years and days|16 October 1964|19 June 1970}}

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour government, 1964–1970

style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington
{{Small|(1919–2018)}}

| 20 June 1970

| 8 January 1974

| {{Age in years and days|20 June 1970|8 January 1974}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Heath

style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

|

| Ian Gilmour
{{Small|MP for Central Norfolk
(1926–2007)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Lords/member/2606 |title=Lord Gilmour of Craigmillar |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}

| 8 January 1974

| 4 March 1974

| {{Age in years and days|8 January 1974|4 March 1974}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

|

| Roy Mason
{{Small|MP for Barnsley
(1924–2015)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-mason-of-barnsley/1062 |title=Lord Mason of Barnsley |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}

| 5 March 1974

| 9 September 1976

| {{Age in years and days|5 March 1974|9 September 1976}}

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour government, 1974–1979

style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Fred Mulley
{{Small|MP for Sheffield Park
(1918–1995)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Lords/member/2977 |title=Lord Mulley |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}

| 10 September 1976

| 4 May 1979

| {{Age in years and days|10 September 1976|4 May 1979}}

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Callaghan

style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Francis Pym
{{Small|MP for Cambridgeshire
(1922–2008)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Lords/member/3257 |title=Lord Pym |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}

| 5 May 1979

| 4 January 1981

| {{Age in years and days|5 May 1979|4 January 1981}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Thatcher I

style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| John Nott
{{Small|MP for St Ives
(1932–2024)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/926 |title=Rt Hon Sir John Nott |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}

| 5 January 1981

| 5 January 1983

| {{Age in years and days|5 January 1981|5 January 1983}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Michael Heseltine
{{Small|MP for Henley
(born 1933)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/94/career |title=Lord Heseltine |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}

| 6 January 1983

| 8 January 1986

| {{Age in years and days|6 January 1983|8 January 1986}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Thatcher II

rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=2 | 110px

| rowspan=2 | George Younger
{{Small|MP for Ayr
(1931–2003)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/969 |title=Rt Hon Sir George Younger |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}{{Cite news |author=George Jones |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1420172/Thatchers-ally-George-Younger-dies-at-71.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1420172/Thatchers-ally-George-Younger-dies-at-71.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Thatcher's ally George Younger dies at 71 |date=27 January 2003 |publisher=The Telegraph |access-date=3 November 2017 }}{{Cbignore}}

| rowspan=2 | 9 January 1986

| rowspan=2 | 23 July 1989

| rowspan=2 | {{Age in years and days|9 January 1986|23 July 1989}}

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Thatcher III
rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=2 | 110px

| rowspan=2 | Tom King
{{Small|MP for Bridgwater
(born 1933)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/254/career |title=Lord King of Bridgwater |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}

| rowspan=2 | 28 July 1989

| rowspan=2 | 9 April 1992

| rowspan=2 | {{Age in years and days|28 July 1989|9 April 1992}}

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

{{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Major I
style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Malcolm Rifkind
{{Small|MP for Edinburgh Pentlands
(born 1946)}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/Sir-Malcolm-Rifkind/1191 |title=Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}

| 10 April 1992

| 4 July 1995

| {{Age in years and days|10 April 1992|4 July 1995}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Major II

style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Michael Portillo
{{Small|MP for Enfield Southgate
(born 1953)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/187 |title=Rt Hon Michael Portillo |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}

| 5 July 1995

| 2 May 1997

| {{Age in years and days|5 July 1995|2 May 1997}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| George Robertson
{{Small|MP for Hamilton South
(born 1946)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/672/career |title=Lord Robertson of Port Ellen |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}

| 3 May 1997

| 11 October 1999

| {{Age in years and days|3 May 1997|11 October 1999}}

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour}} | Blair I

style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}; border-bottom:solid 1px {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" height=37 |

| rowspan=2 | 110px

| rowspan=2 | Geoff Hoon
{{Small|MP for Ashfield
(born 1953)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/357 |title=Mr Geoffrey Hoon |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}

| rowspan=2 | 11 October 1999

| rowspan=2 | 6 May 2005

| rowspan=2 | {{Age in years and days|11 October 1999|6 May 2005}}

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour

style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Blair II

style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| John Reid
{{Small|MP for Airdrie and Shotts
(born 1947)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/617/career |title=Lord Reid of Cardowan |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}

| 6 May 2005

| 5 May 2006

| {{Age in years and days|6 May 2005|5 May 2006}}

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour}} | Blair III

style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}; border-bottom:solid 1px {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" height=37 |

| rowspan=2 | 110px

| rowspan=2 | Des Browne
{{Small|MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun
(born 1952)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/620/career |title=Lord Browne of Ladyton |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}

| rowspan=2 | 5 May 2006

| rowspan=2 | 3 October 2008

| rowspan=2 | {{Age in years and days|5 May 2006|3 October 2008}}

| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour

style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Labour}} | Brown

style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| John Hutton
{{Small|MP for Barrow and Furness
(born 1955)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/494/career |title=Lord Hutton of Furness |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}

| 3 October 2008

| 5 June 2009

| {{Age in years and days|3 October 2008|5 June 2009}}

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour

style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Bob Ainsworth
{{Small|MP for Coventry North East
(born 1952)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/306/career |title=Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}

| 5 June 2009

| 11 May 2010

| {{Age in years and days|5 June 2009|11 May 2010}}

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour

style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Liam Fox
{{Small|MP for North Somerset
(born 1961)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/223/career |title=Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/13/coalition-cabinet-list-profiles |title=Who's who in the coalition cabinet |work=The Guardian |date=13 May 2010 |access-date=3 November 2017 }}

| 12 May 2010

| 14 October 2011

| {{Age in years and days|11 May 2010|14 October 2011}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | Cameron–Clegg
{{Small|(Con.–L.D.)}}

style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| style="white-space: nowrap" | Philip Hammond
{{Small|MP for Runnymede and Weybridge
(born 1955)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/105/career |title=Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15300751 |title=Liam Fox quits as defence secretary |date=14 October 2011 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=3 November 2017 }}

| 14 October 2011

| 15 July 2014

| {{Age in years and days|14 October 2011|15 July 2014}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

rowspan=4 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=4 | 110px

| rowspan=4 | Michael Fallon
{{Small|MP for Sevenoaks
(born 1952)}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/sir-michael-fallon/88 |title=Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28303854 |title=Reshuffle at-a-glance: In, out and moved about |date=15 July 2014 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=3 November 2017 }}

| rowspan=4 | 15 July 2014

| rowspan=4 | 1 November 2017

| rowspan=4 | {{Age in years and days|15 July 2014|1 November 2017}}

| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

{{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Cameron II
{{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | May I
rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | May II
style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Gavin Williamson
{{Small|MP for South Staffordshire
(born 1976)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4108/career |title=Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41844320 |title=Gavin Williamson replaces Michael Fallon as defence secretary |date=2 November 2017 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=2 November 2017 }}

| 2 November 2017

| 1 May 2019

| {{Age in years and days|2 November 2017|1 May 2019}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| 110px

| Penny Mordaunt
{{Small|MP for Portsmouth North
(born 1973)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4017/career |title=Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48126974|title=Gavin Williamson sacked over Huawei leak|date=2019-05-01|access-date=2019-05-02|language=en-GB}}

| 1 May 2019

| 24 July 2019

| {{Age in years and days|1 May 2019|24 July 2019}}

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

rowspan=4 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=4 | 110px

| rowspan=4 | Ben Wallace
{{Small|MP for Wyre and Preston North
(born 1970)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1539/career |title=Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.forces.net/news/politics/breaking-penny-mordaunt-leaves-role-defence-secretary|title=Ben Wallace Named New Defence Secretary|website=Forces Network|date=24 July 2019|access-date=24 July 2019}}

| rowspan=4 | 24 July 2019

| rowspan=4 | 31 August 2023

| rowspan=4 |{{Age in years and days|24 July 2019|31 August 2023}}

| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Johnson I

{{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Johnson II
{{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Truss
rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Sunak
rowspan=1 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=1 | 110px

| rowspan=1 | Grant Shapps
{{Small|MP for Welwyn Hatfield
(born 1968)}}{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1582/career |title=Grant Shapps |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 September 2023}}

| rowspan=1 | 31 August 2023

| rowspan=1 | 5 July 2024

| rowspan=1 | {{Age in years and days|31 August 2023|5 July 2024}}

| rowspan=1 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | Conservative

rowspan=1 style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |

| rowspan=1 | 146x146px

| rowspan=1 | John Healey
{{Small|MP for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough
(born 1960)}}

| rowspan=1 | 5 July 2024

| rowspan=1 | Incumbent

| rowspan=1 | {{Age in years and days|5 July 2024

}

| {{Party shading/Labour}} | Labour

| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | Starmer

|}

Timeline

{{#tag:timeline

|ImageSize = width:1100 height:auto barincrement:13

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

AlignBars = late

PlotArea = width:90% left:10 top:10 bottom:50

Legend = columns:1 left:120 top:20 columnwidth:175

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy

Period = from:01/01/1935 till:31/12/{{#time:Y|+1 year}}

TimeAxis = orientation:horizontal

Colors =

id:conservative value:rgb(0,0.53,0.86) legend: Conservative_and_Unionist_Party

id:labour value:rgb(0.86,0.08,0.18) legend: Labour_Party

id:independent value:rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6) legend: Independent_or_no_party

id:liteline value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)

id:line value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line unit:year increment:10 start:1940

ScaleMinor = gridcolor:liteline unit:year increment:2 start:1936

TextData =

pos:(20,25) textcolor:black fontsize:M

text:"Political parties:"

BarData =

bar:Inskip

bar:Chatfield

bar:Churchill

bar:Attlee

bar:Alexander

bar:Shinwell

bar:Tunis

bar:Macmillan

bar:LLoyd

bar:Monckton

bar:Head

bar:Sandys

bar:Watkinson

bar:Thorneycroft

bar:Healey

bar:Carrington

bar:Gilmour

bar:Mason

bar:Mulley

bar:Pym

bar:Nott

bar:Heseltine

bar:Younger

bar:King

bar:Rifkind

bar:Portillo

bar:Robertson

bar:Hoon

bar:Reid

bar:Browne

bar:Hutton

bar:Ainsworth

bar:Fox

bar:Hammond

bar:Fallon

bar:Williamson

bar:Mordaunt

bar:Wallace

bar:Shapps

bar:Healey2

PlotData=

width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till

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

{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

External links

{{Commons category|Secretaries of State for Defence (UK)}}

  • [http://www.gov.uk/mod www.gov.uk/mod]

{{Secretary of State for Defence}}

{{United Kingdom Ministry of Defence}}

{{Cabinet positions in the United Kingdom}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary Of State For Defence}}

Defence, Secretary of State for

Category:Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)

Category:Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom

Category:1964 establishments in the United Kingdom

United Kingdom