Shadow cabinet posts

Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
In office 6 December 2005 – 11 May 2010
Leader	David Cameron
Preceded by	Michael Ancram
Succeeded by	Bob Ainsworth
Shadow Foreign Secretary
In office 10 May 2005 – 6 December 2005
Leader	Michael Howard
Preceded by	Michael Ancram
Succeeded by	William Hague
Shadow Secretary of State for Health
In office 15 June 1999 – 6 November 2003
Leader	William Hague Iain Duncan Smith
Preceded by	Ann Widdecombe
Succeeded by	Tim Yeo
Shadow Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson
In office 1 June 1998 – 15 June 1999
Leader	William Hague
Preceded by	Michael Ancram
Succeeded by	George Young

Member of Parliament
for North Somerset
Woodspring (1992–2010)

In office
9 April 1992 – 30 May 2024

Preceded by

Sir Paul Dean

Succeeded by

Sadik Al-Hassan

Personal details

Born

22 September 1961 (age 63)
East Kilbride, Scotland

Political party

Conservative

Spouse

Jesme Baird

(m. 2005)

Residences

Tickenham, Somerset, England

Alma mater

University of Glasgow (MB ChB)

Medical career

Profession

General practitioner
Civilian army general practitioner

Sir Liam Fox (born 22 September 1961) is a British politician. He was a Member of Parliament (MP) for North Somerset from 1992 to 2024. He is a member of the Conservative Party.

He held important roles in the government. He was the Secretary of State for International Trade from 2016 to 2019. Before that, he was the Secretary of State for Defence from 2010 to 2011.

Fox studied medicine at the University of Glasgow. He worked as a doctor before becoming an MP. He also held several "shadow" roles in the opposition. These roles prepare politicians for government jobs.

In 2010, he became Defence Secretary under Prime Minister David Cameron. He resigned in 2011 due to concerns about a close friend's access to official meetings.

In 2016, after the UK voted to leave the European Union, Fox became the first Secretary of State for International Trade. He was also made President of the Board of Trade. He lost this job in 2019 when Boris Johnson became Prime Minister.

He was made a "Sir" (knighted) in 2023 for his public and political work.

Early Life and Education
Parliamentary Career
Secretary of State for Defence
- Resignation from Defence Role
Secretary of State for International Trade
Political Views
Personal Life
Images for kids
See also

Early Life and Education

Liam Fox was born in East Kilbride, Scotland, on 22 September 1961. He grew up in a Roman Catholic family. His family mostly supported the Labour Party.

He went to state schools, including St Bride's High School. He then studied medicine at the University of Glasgow. He graduated in 1983.

Before becoming an MP, Fox worked as a GP (doctor). He also worked as a civilian army doctor. He was also a Divisional Surgeon with St John Ambulance.

Parliamentary Career

Fox first tried to become an MP in 1987 but did not win. He was first elected to Parliament in 1992 for the area of Woodspring.

In 1993, he became a Parliamentary private secretary to the Home Secretary. This is a junior role helping a government minister. In 1994, he became an Assistant Government Whip. Whips help make sure MPs vote as their party wants.

From 1996 to 1997, he was a junior minister at the Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In 1996, he tried to help create a peace plan in Sri Lanka.

Liam Fox as Shadow Defence Secretary

After the 1997 election, he became a spokesman for the opposition on Constitutional Affairs. From 1999 to 2003, he was the Shadow Secretary of State for Health. This meant he led the opposition's health policies.

In 2003, he became co-chairman of the Conservative Party. This is an important role in managing the party.

Fox supported the 2003 invasion of Iraq. As Shadow Defence Secretary, he supported keeping British troops in Iraq. He also visited Iraq several times.

In 2005, he ran to become the leader of the Conservative Party. He focused on fixing what he called a "broken society." He did not win, but the new leader, David Cameron, made him Shadow Defence Secretary.

Fox strongly supported the war in Afghanistan. He believed British troops should stay there.

Before the 2010 election, his local area changed to North Somerset. He was elected as the MP for this new area.

In 2013, Fox voted against a law to allow same-sex marriage in the UK. He believed it was "divisive" and "constitutionally wrong."

In 2016, he ran for Conservative Party leader again after the UK voted to leave the EU. He supported leaving the EU and wanted a quick exit. He also promised to increase defence spending. He did not win, but Theresa May became Prime Minister and made him International Trade Secretary.

Liam Fox at Chatham House in 2010

He was re-elected as MP for North Somerset in the 2017 and 2019 elections.

In 2020, the UK government nominated Fox to be the head of the World Trade Organization. He made it to the second round but was not chosen for the final round.

In 2021, Fox supported a new law called the Down Syndrome Bill. This law aimed to help people with Down syndrome.

In the 2024 general election, Liam Fox lost his seat in Parliament.

Secretary of State for Defence

Fox with US Defense Secretary Robert Gates in 2010

Liam Fox became Secretary of State for Defence in May 2010. This is a very important job in charge of the UK's armed forces.

In 2010, he said that the UK's finances meant the Armed Forces could not afford to prepare for every possible danger. He suggested that the military might need to give up some capabilities.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) faced big budget cuts. Fox said that spending in his department was "ballooning." He criticized how projects were managed, saying they had "unrealistic timescales."

Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates escorts Fox through an honor cordon and into The Pentagon in 2010

In 2011, Fox defended the decision to reduce the number of people in the armed forces. He said it was necessary due to budget cuts.

He also warned that Libya could be divided during its civil war. He opposed plans to greatly increase Britain's foreign aid budget. He suggested that aid money should go to defence instead.

Resignation from Defence Role

In October 2011, Fox resigned as Defence Secretary. This happened after concerns were raised about his close friend, Adam Werritty. Werritty had visited Fox at the Ministry of Defence many times. He also joined Fox on official trips.

An investigation found that Fox's actions broke government rules. It also said his actions created a "security risk."

Secretary of State for International Trade

After Theresa May became Prime Minister in July 2016, Fox was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade. His job was to help the UK make new trade deals with other countries after Brexit.

He said he preferred a free trade agreement with the EU. This would allow Britain to make its own trade deals with other countries.

In 2016, Fox said British businesses needed to export more. He believed exporting was a "duty" that some companies ignored. In 2017, he announced a new board of trade. This board would help spread the benefits of free trade across the UK.

In July 2019, he lost his cabinet position. This happened when Boris Johnson became the new Prime Minister and changed his team.

Political Views

Finances and Donations

Fox was a shareholder in a medical education company that later closed.

He received a £50,000 donation from an investor. This investor's firm later owned a company that made parts for military aircraft. This raised questions about a possible conflict of interest, but no rules were broken.

In 2023, it was reported that Fox received a £10,000 cash donation from a British cabling company.

Brexit

Fox supported leaving the European Union in the 2016 referendum. He is known as a "staunch Eurosceptic." He wanted a "clean break" from the EU to regain "national sovereignty."

In 2018, he said he would not support extending the EU transition period. He had previously said a post-Brexit trade deal "should be the easiest in human history."

Afghanistan

Liam Fox in Afghanistan with Air Marshal Stuart Peach in 2010

In 2010, Fox said that leaving Afghanistan too early would risk civil war. He believed it would also encourage extremist groups. He said British troops should stay until their mission was complete.

He stated that the Afghan army and police should take over security by 2014. After that, British troops would mainly work as trainers.

Liam Fox meeting with General McChrystal in Kabul, Afghanistan in July 2009

NATO and Europe

Fox strongly believes in the Special Relationship between the UK and the United States. He thinks NATO is key to the UK and Europe's defence. He believes NATO should be more important than the European Union in defence matters.

He is against European defence integration. He thinks it duplicates NATO's efforts and wastes resources.

Military Welfare

Fox has often said that the "Military Covenant" is broken. This is an unwritten agreement between the nation and its armed forces. He believes the British Armed Forces are asked to do too much with too few resources.

He helped set up a commission to improve the welfare of service members and their families. He is especially interested in mental health issues for military personnel.

Israel

Fox supports Israel and is a member of Conservative Friends of Israel. He has said that Israel's enemies are also the UK's enemies. However, he also stated that British support for any ally is not unlimited.

US–UK Relations

Liam Fox with Rudy Giuliani and Margaret Thatcher in 2007

He strongly believes in the close relationship between the UK and the US. He helped found "The Atlantic Bridge," a charity that promoted this relationship. The charity later closed.

He criticized protests against Donald Trump's visit to the UK in 2018. He called the protesters an "embarrassment."

National Health Service

In 2014, Fox suggested that dedicated funding for the NHS should end. He noted that despite increased spending, some health results in the UK were behind other countries.

Syria

Fox was disappointed when Parliament voted against military action in Syria after chemical weapons were used. He believed the government had the authority to act without Parliament's approval.

He later argued that bombing extremist groups in Iraq should extend into Syria. He also suggested creating safe areas in Syria through military action.

Expenses and Rules

In 2010, Fox repaid money he had claimed for mortgage interest. An appeal he made was rejected. He said his office handled his expenses according to the rules.

In 2010, Fox admitted he had not declared a trip to Sri Lanka on time. The trip was paid for by the Sri Lankan government. He also failed to declare his interest in Sri Lanka when asking about UK aid to the country. He blamed a "changeover of staffing responsibilities" for the error.

Personal Life

Liam Fox married Jesme Baird, a doctor, on 17 December 2005. They were engaged in June 2005.

He has lived in North Somerset since 1990. He currently lives in Tickenham.

In 2013, Fox published a book called Rising Tides: Facing the Challenges of a New Era. In the book, he discusses how global institutions are not ready for 21st-century challenges.

He is a member of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

Images for kids

Liam Fox in Basra, Iraq September 2008

Liam Fox facts for kids

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