We use some essential cookies to make this website work.
We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.
We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.
You have accepted additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
You have rejected additional cookies. You can change your cookie settings at any time.
Departments, agencies and public bodies
News stories, speeches, letters and notices
Detailed guidance, regulations and rules
Reports, analysis and official statistics
Consultations and strategy
Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports
Government spokesman for Women and Equalities and the Department for Work and Pensions, and Whip for the Home Office and the Department for Culture, Media & Sport. Lords Whips have the same constitutional position as departmental ministers. Their role in...
Lord Astor was appointed Under Secretary of State and the Lords Spokesman on Defence in 2003. He is a Conservative member of the House of Lords. Education Lord Astor was educated at Eton. Political career In 1994 Lord Astor was...
Tom Brake became Deputy Leader of the House of Commons in October 2012 and was also appointed as an Assistant Government Whip in November 2014. He was elected the Liberal Democrat MP for Carshalton and Wallington in 1997. Education Tom...
Bill Dickson is currently Chairman of the Broads Authority, Director National Parks England, National Parks UK, National Parks Partnership, and a member of the Norfolk Public Sector Leaders Board. Following a few years as an engineer and then site manager...
Alistair Carmichael was Secretary of State for Scotland from October 2013 to May 2015. He was elected as the MP for Orkney and Shetland in 2001. Education Alistair attended Port Ellen Primary School and Islay High School. He gained an...
Rt Hon Jack Straw was appointed in July 2015 as a Member of the Independent Commission on Freedom of Information. He was Foreign Secretary 2001 to 2006, Home Secretary 1997 to 2001, and Leader of the Commons 2006 to 2007...
Jon Wilks CMG was British Ambassador in Doha from March 2020 to December 2023. He was previously Ambassador to the Republic of Iraq (2017 to 2019), Oman (2014 to 2017) and Yemen (2010 to 2011). He was also the UK...
Simon Shercliff was appointed Her Majesty’s Ambassador to Iran in August 2021. Previously he was Director for National Security at the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) from February 2018. He also served as Her Majesty’s Ambassador to the Republic...
Paul Kissack was appointed Permanent Secretary at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs on 13 October 2025. From 2020 until 2025, Paul Kissack was Group Chief Executive of the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and of the Joseph Rowntree Housing...
The Minister is responsible for: national roads Highways Agency reform Infrastructure Bill maritime Commons spokesman on bus policy
Do not include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.
To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. Please fill in this survey (opens in a new tab and requires JavaScript).