Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

The Rt Hon Lord Cameron

Biography

David Cameron was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs on 13 November 2023.

He was elevated to the House of Lords on 20 November 2023, as Lord Cameron of Chipping Norton.

He was previously Prime Minister from May 2010 until July 2016. David led a Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government from 2010 until 2015 and continued as Prime Minister from May 2015 leading a Conservative government. He was the Conservative MP for Witney in West Oxfordshire from 2001 to 2016.

Education

David studied at Eton College before graduating from Oxford University with a first class degree in politics, philosophy and economics.

Political career

Before being elected as an MP, David worked for the Conservative Party Research Department. He then worked as a special adviser in government, first to the Chancellor of the Exchequer and then to the Home Secretary.

In Parliament he held a number of positions on the Opposition Front Bench, including:

  • Shadow Deputy Leader of the House of Commons
  • Front Bench Spokesman for Local Government Finance,
  • Head of Policy Coordination in the run-up to the 2005 General Election

He was also a member of the influential House of Commons Home Affairs Select Committee from 2001 to 2003.

He was appointed Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills after the 2005 General Election and, on a mandate to change and modernise the Party, he was elected Leader of the Conservative Party in December 2005.

In 2010 the Conservative Party and Liberal Democrats formed a coalition government. David became Prime Minister, making him the youngest Prime Minister in 198 years. He continued as Prime Minister from May 2015 until July 2016 leading a Conservative government.

On 13 November 2023 he was appointed Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs.

Career outside politics

David spent 7 years at Carlton Communications where he served on the management board.

Personal life

David is married to Samantha. They have 3 children and live in London and West Oxfordshire. Sadly, their eldest child, Ivan, who suffered from cerebral palsy and severe epilepsy, died in February 2009.

Follow David on Twitter: @David_Cameron

Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs

The Secretary of State has overall responsibility for all Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office business, including:

  • overarching responsibility for the departmental portfolio and oversight of the ministerial team
  • Cabinet
  • foreign policy and National Security Council
  • strategy
  • intelligence policy
  • honours

More about this role

Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office

Previous roles in government