David Gauke facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
David Gauke
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Official portrait, 2017
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| Secretary of State for Justice Lord Chancellor |
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| In office 8 January 2018 – 24 July 2019 |
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| Prime Minister | Theresa May |
| Preceded by | David Lidington |
| Succeeded by | Robert Buckland |
| Secretary of State for Work and Pensions | |
| In office 11 June 2017 – 8 January 2018 |
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| Prime Minister | Theresa May |
| Preceded by | Damian Green |
| Succeeded by | Esther McVey |
| Chief Secretary to the Treasury | |
| In office 14 July 2016 – 11 June 2017 |
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| Prime Minister | Theresa May |
| Preceded by | Greg Hands |
| Succeeded by | Liz Truss |
| Financial Secretary to the Treasury | |
| In office 15 July 2014 – 14 July 2016 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Nicky Morgan |
| Succeeded by | Jane Ellison |
| Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury | |
| In office 13 May 2010 – 15 July 2014 |
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| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Sarah McCarthy-Fry |
| Succeeded by | Priti Patel |
| Member of Parliament for South West Hertfordshire |
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| In office 5 May 2005 – 6 November 2019 |
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| Preceded by | Richard Page |
| Succeeded by | Gagan Mohindra |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
David Michael Gauke
8 October 1971 Ipswich, Suffolk, England |
| Political party | Conservative (1990-2019, 2024- present) |
| Other political affiliations |
Independent (2019–2024) |
| Spouse | Rachel Gauke |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | St Edmund Hall, Oxford University of Law |
David Michael Gauke (born 8 October 1971) is a British political writer and former politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for South West Hertfordshire from 2005 to 2019.
He held important jobs in the government under Theresa May. These included Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor from 2018 to 2019. David Gauke was first elected as a member of the Conservative Party. However, he later became an independent politician in 2019.
Gauke also served in the government of David Cameron. He was the Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury from 2010 to 2014. Then he became the Financial Secretary to the Treasury from 2014 to 2016. In 2016, he joined the Cabinet as Chief Secretary to the Treasury. He was later appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions in 2017. He resigned from his government role in July 2019. This happened after the Conservative Party leadership election.
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Early Life and Education
David Gauke grew up in Ipswich, Suffolk. He went to Northgate High School. After school, he studied law at St Edmund Hall, Oxford. He also studied at the College of Law in Chester. He finished his legal studies in 1995.
Before becoming a politician, he worked as a solicitor. A solicitor is a lawyer who advises clients and prepares legal documents. He worked at law firms like Richards Butler and Macfarlanes.
Political Career Highlights
Becoming an MP
David Gauke was first elected to the House of Commons in 2005. He became the MP for South West Hertfordshire. He won the election with a large number of votes. His first speech in Parliament was on 9 June 2005.
Between 2005 and 2008, he was part of the Procedure Select Committee. This committee looks at how Parliament works. He also served on the Treasury Select Committee.
Roles in Government
After being re-elected in 2010, he got his first government job. He was appointed Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury. This role involved working with the government's money and taxes. He held this job for four years.
In 2014, he became the Financial Secretary to the Treasury. This was another important role dealing with the country's finances. In 2016, he was made a member of the Privy Council. This is a group of senior advisors to the King.
Later in 2016, he became Chief Secretary to the Treasury. This is a senior role in the government's finance department. In 2017, he was appointed Secretary of State for Work and Pensions. This job involves looking after employment and welfare policies.
In January 2018, David Gauke became Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor. This is a very important role in the legal system. He was the first solicitor to hold this position.
Leaving the Government
In 2019, David Gauke decided to resign from his government position. He stated that he could not work under Boris Johnson as Prime Minister. He was concerned about the possibility of the UK leaving the European Union without a deal. He and other MPs who shared his views were sometimes called the "Gaukeward Squad" by the media.
Becoming an Independent MP
On 3 September 2019, David Gauke voted against the government. He joined other Conservative MPs who disagreed with the government's plan for Brexit. Because of this vote, he was removed from the Conservative Party. This meant he had to sit in Parliament as an independent politician.
In the general election later that year, he ran as an independent candidate. He did not win his seat. The Conservative candidate won instead.
Life After Parliament
After leaving Parliament in 2019, David Gauke returned to his legal career. In May 2020, he rejoined the law firm Macfarlanes. He became their head of policy.
He also works as a political commentator. He writes articles for the New Statesman magazine. He shares his views on British and international politics. In 2024, he rejoined the Conservative Party.
In October 2024, it was announced that he would lead a review into prison sentences. This review will be independent.
Personal Life
David Gauke is married to Rachel Gauke. They have three sons. They live in Chorleywood in Hertfordshire. He is a big fan of the football team Ipswich Town F.C..
Images for kids
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Official portrait, 2017
