Minister of State (Minister for the Middle East and North Africa) and Minister of State

The Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP

The Rt Hon Dr Andrew Murrison MP

Biography

Dr Andrew Murrison MP was appointed as a Minister of State at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office and the Department for International Development on 9 May 2019. He is the Conservative MP for South West Wiltshire.

Education

Andrew studied medicine at Bristol and public health at Hughes Hall, Cambridge.

Political career

Andrew was elected MP for Westbury in June 2001 and for South West Wiltshire in May 2010.

In November 2003 he was appointed to the Conservative front bench as a health spokesman, transferring in July 2007 to defence. In May 2010 Andrew became Parliamentary Private Secretary to Secretary of State for Health and was asked by the Prime Minister to review and make recommendations on health care for members of the services community. The principal recommendations in the subsequent reports, ‘Fighting Fit’ and ‘A Better Deal for Military Amputees’, are being rolled out by the government.

In November 2011 Prime Minister David Cameron appointed him as his special representative for the centenary commemoration of the First World War.

Andrew previously served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Defence and Minister for International Security Strategy from September 2012 until July 2014. He then served as Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Northern Ireland Office from July 2014 to March 2015.

Career outside politics

Andrew served for 18 years as a medical officer in the Royal Navy, leaving in October 2000 as a Surgeon Commander. In 2003 he was recalled to serve in Iraq.

Personal life

Andrew and his wife live near Warminster. They have 5 daughters.

Minister of State (Minister for the Middle East and North Africa)

Responsibilities include:

  • Middle East and North Africa
  • Stabilisation Unit: oversees FCO-commissioned issues
  • national security
  • defence and international security, not including Euro-Atlantic security policy
More about this role

Foreign & Commonwealth Office

Minister of State

Ministerial portfolio responsibilities for DFID:

  • Middle East and North Africa*
  • Conflict, humanitarian, and security (CHASE)
  • Stabilisation (and Stabilisation Unit)
  • Human Development (Global Health Security, Neglected Tropical Diseases, Water and Sanitation, Nutrition, Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights)
  • Global Funds Department
  • Cross Government Fund (CSSF)

*The joint ministerial lead is applicable by geographic area only.

More about this role

Department for International Development

Previous roles in government

  1. Minister of State

    • 2014 to 2015

  2. Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for International Security Strategy

    • 2012 to 2014

Announcements

  1. Minister for the Middle East and North Africa completes tour of the Gulf
    • News story
  2. Attacks in Idlib, Syria: Minister Murrison's statement
    • Press release
  3. Iran’s commitment to the nuclear deal: UK statement, 7 July 2019
    • Press release
  4. Mauritanian election results: Ministerial statement
    • Press release
  5. New UK aid will ensure millions of Palestinian refugees receive education, healthcare and food
    • Press release
  6. Minister for the Middle East, Dr Andrew Murrison, visits Iran
    • Press release
  7. UK Minister for the Middle East to visit Iran
    • Press release
  8. Statement on attacks on health facilities in the Idlib area of Syria
    • Oral statement
  9. Andrew Murrison's statement on Israeli settlement construction
    • Press release
  10. More than 380,000 people in Gaza will receive life-saving medical treatment with help from UK aid
    • Press release
View all announcements