Shadow Secretary of State for Defence

The shadow secretary of state for defence is a member of the UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the secretary of state for defence and the department, the Ministry of Defence. The post is currently held by James Cartlidge.

Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
since 8 July 2024
AppointerLeader of the Opposition
Inaugural holderDenis Healey
Formation1 April 1964

Shadow secretaries of state

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Name Entered office Left office Political party Shadow Cabinet
Denis Healey   1 April 1964 16 October 1964 Labour Wilson I
Peter Thorneycroft   16 October 1964 7 July 1965 Conservative Douglas-Home
Enoch Powell   7 July 1965 21 April 1968 Conservative Heath I
Reginald Maudling 21 April 1968 1969 Conservative
Geoffrey Rippon   1969 8 July 1970 Conservative
George Thomson   8 July 1970 10 April 1972 Labour Wilson II
Fred Peart   10 April 1972 4 March 1974 Labour
Ian Gilmour   4 March 1974 29 October 1974 Conservative Heath II
Peter Walker   29 October 1974 18 February 1975 Conservative
George Younger   18 February 1975 15 January 1976 Conservative Thatcher
Ian Gilmour   15 January 1976 4 May 1979 Conservative
Fred Mulley   4 May 1979 14 June 1979 Labour Callaghan
William Rodgers   14 June 1979 8 December 1980 Labour
Brynmor John   8 December 1980 24 November 1981 Labour Foot
John Silkin   24 November 1981 26 October 1984 Labour
Kinnock
Denzil Davies   26 October 1984 14 June 1988 Labour
Martin O'Neill   14 June 1988 18 July 1992 Labour
David Clark   18 July 1992 2 May 1997 Labour Smith
Beckett
Blair
John Major   2 May 1997 11 June 1997 Conservative Major
George Young   11 June 1997 1 June 1998 Conservative Hague
John Maples 1 June 1998 15 June 1999 Conservative
Iain Duncan Smith   15 June 1999 18 September 2001 Conservative
Bernard Jenkin   18 September 2001 6 November 2003 Conservative Duncan Smith
Nicholas Soames   6 November 2003 10 May 2005 Conservative Howard
Michael Ancram[1]   10 May 2005 6 December 2005 Conservative
Liam Fox[2]   7 December 2005 6 May 2010 Conservative Cameron
Bob Ainsworth[3]   12 May 2010 8 October 2010 Labour Harman I
Jim Murphy[4]   8 October 2010 7 October 2013 Labour Miliband
Vernon Coaker[5]   7 October 2013 14 September 2015 Labour
Harman II
Maria Eagle[6]   14 September 2015 5 January 2016 Labour Corbyn
Emily Thornberry[7]   5 January 2016 27 June 2016 Labour
Clive Lewis[8]   27 June 2016 6 October 2016 Labour
Nia Griffith[9]   6 October 2016 6 April 2020 Labour
John Healey[10]   6 April 2020 5 July 2024 Labour Starmer
James Cartlidge   8 July 2024 Incumbent Conservative Sunak

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "The Marquess of Lothian". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Dr Liam Fox". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  3. ^ "Mr Bob Ainsworth". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  4. ^ "Mr Jim Murphy". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  5. ^ "Lord Coaker". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  6. ^ "Maria Eagle". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  7. ^ "Emily Thornberry". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  8. ^ "Clive Lewis". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  9. ^ "Dame Nia Griffith". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
  10. ^ "John Healey". UK Parliament. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
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