Junior ministerial offices

Minister of State
2008–2010	Higher Education and Intellectual Property
2005–2007	Culture
Parliamentary under-secretary of state
2007–2008	Innovation, Universities and Skills
2003–2005	Constitutional Affairs
2002–2003	Public Health

Shadow portfolios

Shadow Secretary of State
2021–2024	Shadow Foreign Secretary
2020–2021	Justice
Shadow Minister
2010–2010	Universities and Science

Member of Parliament
for Tottenham

Incumbent

Assumed office
22 June 2000

Preceded by

Bernie Grant

Majority

15,434 (38.4%)

Member of the London Assembly
as the 10th Additional Member

In office
4 May 2000 – 4 July 2000

Preceded by

Office established

Succeeded by

Jennette Arnold

Personal details

Born

David Lindon Lammy

19 July 1972 (age 53)
Archway, London, England

Citizenship

United Kingdom
Guyana

Political party

Labour

Spouse

Nicola Green

(m. 2005)

Children

Education

SOAS University of London (LLB)
Harvard University (LLM)

Occupation

Politician
lawyer
lecturer
presenter

Signature

Lammy with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, July 2024

Lammy with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing, October 2024

Lammy speaking at a rally in Parliament Square, March 2017

Lammy with Saudi Arabia’s Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud in Riyadh, January 2025

Lammy with Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto in Jakarta, October 2024

David Lindon Lammy, born on 19 July 1972, is an important British politician. He currently holds three big jobs: Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Secretary of State for Justice, and Lord Chancellor. He started these roles in September 2025. Before this, he was the Foreign Secretary from July 2024 to September 2025.

Mr. Lammy is a member of the Labour Party. He has been a Member of Parliament (MP) for Tottenham since the year 2000. This means he has represented the people of Tottenham in the UK Parliament for a long time.

He grew up in London and studied law at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), part of the University of London. He also studied at Harvard University in the United States, becoming the first black British person to attend Harvard Law School. Early in his career, he worked as a lawyer. He first became an MP in 2000 and served in several government roles under Prime Ministers Tony Blair and Gordon Brown between 2002 and 2010. Later, he held important roles in the opposition, including Shadow Foreign Secretary, before returning to government in 2024.

Who is David Lammy?
Honours and Recognition
See also

Who is David Lammy?

Early Life and Education

David Lammy was born in London on 19 July 1972. His parents were from Guyana. He grew up in Tottenham with his mother and four siblings.

When he was 10, David received a special scholarship. This allowed him to sing at Peterborough Cathedral and attend The King's School, Peterborough.

He later studied law at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) in London. After that, he went to Harvard University in the United States. He was the first black British person to study at Harvard Law School. He became a lawyer in 1994.

After finishing his studies, Mr. Lammy worked as a lawyer in both California and London. He is also a visiting professor at SOAS.

Starting His Political Journey

Becoming a Member of Parliament

In May 2000, David Lammy was first elected to the London Assembly. This is a group that helps run London. Later that same year, he was chosen to represent the Labour Party in Tottenham.

He won the election on 22 June 2000. At 27 years old, he was the youngest MP in the UK Parliament at that time. He has been re-elected as the MP for Tottenham many times since then.

Serving as a Minister

Official portrait, 2002

In 2002, Prime Minister Tony Blair appointed Mr. Lammy to his first government role. He became a junior minister in the Department of Health. In 2003, he moved to the Department for Constitutional Affairs.

After the 2005 election, he became Minister for Culture. In 2007, when Gordon Brown became Prime Minister, Mr. Lammy continued to serve in government. He held roles related to innovation, universities, and skills. From 2008 to 2010, he was the Minister for Higher Education.

Important Roles in Government

Foreign Secretary

Lammy appointed as Foreign Secretary by Keir Starmer, 5 July 2024

After the 2024 general election, the Labour Party won. Keir Starmer became Prime Minister. He appointed David Lammy as the Foreign Secretary on 5 July 2024. In this role, Mr. Lammy was in charge of how the UK worked with other countries.

Lammy during a visit to Israel, July 2024

He traveled to many countries, like Poland, Germany, and Sweden. He worked to improve the UK's relationships with countries in the European Union. He also discussed important global issues, such as peace efforts and humanitarian aid in different parts of the world. For example, he announced that the UK would restart funding for the UNRWA to help people in need. He also helped with the transfer of the Chagos Islands to Mauritius.

Lammy with Qatar's Prime Minister in Doha, July 2024

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary

In September 2025, Mr. Lammy received new important roles. He became the Deputy Prime Minister of the United Kingdom. He also took on the jobs of Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor. In these roles, he helps lead the government and oversees the justice system in the UK.

Standing Up for Fairness

Equality and Justice

Lammy at the Keskidee Centre in Islington, 2011

David Lammy has always been a strong voice for fairness and equality. He has spoken about the history of slavery and how it affects society today. He also highlighted the need for universities, like the University of Oxford, to welcome students from all backgrounds.

He supported the Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill to allow same-sex couples to marry. He also led a special review to look at how the police and courts treat people from different racial backgrounds. This review aimed to make the justice system fairer for everyone.

Mr. Lammy has also spoken out against antisemitism (hatred towards Jewish people) within his own political party. He believes it is important to fight against all forms of prejudice.

He also helped bring attention to a historical injustice. He showed how many African and Asian soldiers who died fighting for Britain in World War I were not properly honored. This led to an apology from the Prime Minister and promises to correct this mistake.

Changing How Charities Work

Mr. Lammy has also talked about how charities show images of people in need, especially from Africa. He suggested that some images might create unhelpful ideas about Africa. He encouraged charities like Comic Relief to show more positive and respectful stories.

His comments helped Comic Relief decide to change how they make their fundraising films. They now work with local filmmakers in Africa to share more authentic stories.

Personal Life and Interests

David Lammy is married to artist Nicola Green. They have two sons and an adopted daughter. He is a Christian and a member of the Church of England.

He is a big fan of Tottenham Hotspur F.C., a football team. He also enjoys watching films and going to the theatre.

Mr. Lammy has dual citizenship for the United Kingdom and Guyana. His family history includes Indian heritage from Calcutta.

He has been recognized as one of the 100 Great Black Britons. He is also often listed in the Powerlist as one of the most influential people of African or Caribbean descent in the UK.

In 2009, he appeared on the TV quiz show Celebrity Mastermind. He has also written two books: Out of the Ashes (2011) and Tribes (2020). From 2022 to April 2024, he hosted a radio show on LBC.

Honours and Recognition

He became a member of the Privy Council in 2008. This means he is called "The Right Honourable".
He is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA).

David Lammy facts for kids

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