kids encyclopedia robot

Secretary of State for Defence facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
United Kingdom
Secretary of State for Defence
Flag of the British Secretary of State for Defence.svg
Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom (HM Government) (2022).svg
John Healey Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped).jpg
Incumbent
John Healey

since 5 July 2024
Ministry of Defence
Style
Member of
  • Cabinet
  • Privy Council
  • National Security Council
  • Defence Council
  • Admiralty Board
  • Army Board
  • Air Force Board
Reports to The Prime Minister
Seat Westminster
Nominator The Prime Minister
Appointer The Monarch
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term length At His Majesty's pleasure
Constituting instrument Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964 section 1(1)(a)
Precursor
Formation 1 April 1964
First holder Peter Thorneycroft
Salary £159,038 per annum (2022)
(including £86,584 MP salary)
Website Defence Secretary

The Secretary of State for Defence, often called the Defence Secretary, is a very important government official in the United Kingdom. This person is in charge of the Ministry of Defence. This ministry looks after the country's armed forces and its safety.

As a senior minister, the Defence Secretary is part of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is a group of the most important ministers who help the Prime Minister make big decisions for the country.

The job of Defence Secretary was created on 1 April 1964. It took over from several older roles, like the Minister of Defence and the heads of the Navy, Army, and Air Force. In 2019, Penny Mordaunt made history by becoming the first female Defence Secretary.

The Defence Secretary gets help from other ministers in the Defence Ministerial Team. They also work with the top civil servant in the ministry. The work of the Defence Secretary is checked by a special group called the Defence Select Committee.

Currently, the Defence Secretary is John Healey. He started this role on 5 July 2024, after the 2024 United Kingdom general election.

What the Defence Secretary Does

The Defence Secretary has many important jobs related to keeping the UK safe. Unlike defence ministers in some other countries, their role is very broad.

Key Responsibilities

  • Planning Military Operations: They oversee big military plans and how the country defends itself.
  • National Security: The Defence Secretary is a member of the National Security Council. This group makes sure the UK is safe from threats.
  • Commanding the Armed Forces: They lead the Defence Council, which has the power from the King or Queen to command the British Armed Forces.
  • Overseeing Intelligence: They keep an eye on Defence Intelligence, which gathers information to protect the country.
  • International Partnerships: They manage relationships with other countries and groups, like NATO. NATO is a military alliance that helps keep its member countries safe.
  • Defence Policy: They decide on important defence policies, including the Trident nuclear weapons programme. This program involves the UK's nuclear weapons.
  • Managing Resources: They are responsible for how money and resources are used for defence.
  • Communicating on Defence: They share information with the public about defence matters.

How the Role Developed

The job of Defence Secretary has changed a lot over time. It grew from earlier roles that focused on different parts of the military.

Minister for Co-ordination of Defence (1936–1940)

This job was created in 1936. Its main goal was to make sure Britain's armed forces were ready. This was important because of concerns about Nazi Germany. The Prime Minister, Stanley Baldwin, set up this role.

When Second World War started, this minister was supposed to speak for the Navy, Army, and Air Force leaders. However, these three leaders also joined the Cabinet. This made the Co-ordination Minister's job less important. The role ended in April 1940.

Minister of Defence (1940–1964)

The role of Minister of Defence was created in 1940. This person was in charge of coordinating all defence and security matters. Winston Churchill created this new job for himself when he became Prime Minister. He wanted one clear minister to lead the country's efforts in World War II.

After the war, in 1946, this role became the main Cabinet position for the military. The leaders of the Navy, Army, and Air Force then reported to the Minister of Defence. This setup continued until 1964.

Secretary of State for Defence (1964–Present)

The current role of Secretary of State for Defence began in 1964. It combined the responsibilities of the Minister of Defence and the separate heads of the Navy, Army, and Air Force. The old departments like the Admiralty and War Office were all merged into the new Ministry of Defence. This change created a single, powerful department to manage all of the UK's defence.

Secretaries of State for Defence (1964–Present)

The table below shows the people who have held the role of Secretary of State for Defence since it was created in 1964.

Secretary of State for Defence
Portrait Name
(birth–death)
Term of office Tenure Party Ministry
Peter Thorneycroft cropped.png Peter Thorneycroft
MP for Monmouth
(1909–1994)
1 April 1964 16 October 1964 198 days Conservative Douglas-Home
Denis Healey.jpg Denis Healey
MP for Leeds East
(1917–2015)
16 October 1964 19 June 1970 5 years, 246 days Labour Wilson
(I & II)
Peter Carington 1984.jpg Peter Carrington
6th Baron Carrington

(1919–2018)
20 June 1970 8 January 1974 3 years, 202 days Conservative Heath
Ian Gilmour
MP for Central Norfolk
(1926–2007)
8 January 1974 4 March 1974 55 days Conservative
Roy Mason
MP for Barnsley
(1924–2015)
5 March 1974 9 September 1976 2 years, 188 days Labour Wilson
(III & IV)
Fred Mulley.PNG Fred Mulley
MP for Sheffield Park
(1918–1995)
10 September 1976 4 May 1979 2 years, 236 days Labour Callaghan
Francis Leslie Pym.jpg Francis Pym
MP for Cambridgeshire
(1922–2008)
5 May 1979 4 January 1981 1 year, 244 days Conservative Thatcher I
John Nott.jpg John Nott
MP for St Ives
(born 1932)
5 January 1981 5 January 1983 2 years, 0 days Conservative
Lord Heseltine (6969083278).jpg Michael Heseltine
MP for Henley
(born 1933)
6 January 1983 8 January 1986 3 years, 2 days Conservative Thatcher II
George Younger.JPEG George Younger
MP for Ayr
(1931–2003)
9 January 1986 23 July 1989 3 years, 195 days Conservative
Thatcher III
Official portrait of Lord King of Bridgwater crop 2.jpg Tom King
MP for Bridgwater
(born 1933)
28 July 1989 9 April 1992 2 years, 256 days Conservative
Major I
Malcolm Rifkind 2011 (cropped).jpg Malcolm Rifkind
MP for Edinburgh Pentlands
(born 1946)
10 April 1992 4 July 1995 3 years, 85 days Conservative Major II
Michael Portillo by Regents College cropped.jpg Michael Portillo
MP for Enfield Southgate
(born 1953)
5 July 1995 2 May 1997 1 year, 301 days Conservative
Official portrait of Lord Robertson of Port Ellen 2020 crop 2.jpg George Robertson
MP for Hamilton South
(born 1946)
3 May 1997 11 October 1999 2 years, 161 days Labour Blair I
Geoff Hoon Headshot.jpg Geoff Hoon
MP for Ashfield
(born 1953)
11 October 1999 6 May 2005 5 years, 207 days Labour
Blair II
Official portrait of Lord Reid of Cardowan, 2020.jpg John Reid
MP for Airdrie and Shotts
(born 1947)
6 May 2005 5 May 2006 364 days Labour Blair III
Official portrait of Lord Browne of Ladyton crop 2, 2022.jpg Des Browne
MP for Kilmarnock and Loudoun
(born 1952)
5 May 2006 3 October 2008 2 years, 151 days Labour
Brown
Msc 2009-Sunday, 11.00 - 12.30 Uhr-Zwez 005 Hutton detail.jpg John Hutton
MP for Barrow and Furness
(born 1955)
3 October 2008 5 June 2009 245 days Labour
The Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP (4799292710).jpg Bob Ainsworth
MP for Coventry North East
(born 1952)
5 June 2009 11 May 2010 340 days Labour
Official portrait of Dr Liam Fox crop 2.jpg Liam Fox
MP for North Somerset
(born 1961)
12 May 2010 14 October 2011 1 year, 156 days Conservative Cameron–Clegg
(Con.L.D.)
Official portrait of Mr Philip Hammond crop 2.jpg Philip Hammond
MP for Runnymede and Weybridge
(born 1955)
14 October 2011 15 July 2014 2 years, 274 days Conservative
Official portrait of Sir Michael Fallon crop 2.jpg Michael Fallon
MP for Sevenoaks
(born 1952)
15 July 2014 1 November 2017 3 years, 109 days Conservative
Cameron II
May I
May II
Official portrait of Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP crop 2.jpg Gavin Williamson
MP for South Staffordshire
(born 1976)
2 November 2017 1 May 2019 1 year, 180 days Conservative
Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt.jpg Penny Mordaunt
MP for Portsmouth North
(born 1973)
1 May 2019 24 July 2019 84 days Conservative
Official portrait of Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP crop 2.jpg Ben Wallace
MP for Wyre and Preston North
(born 1970)
24 July 2019 31 August 2023 4 years, 38 days Conservative Johnson I
Johnson II
Truss
Sunak
Official portrait of Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP crop 2.jpg Grant Shapps
MP for Welwyn Hatfield
(born 1968)
31 August 2023 5 July 2024 1 year, 308 days Conservative
Official portrait of Rt Hon John Healey MP crop 2.jpg John Healey
MP for Wentworth and Dearne
(born 1960)
5 July 2024 Incumbent 1 year, 0 days Labour Starmer

Timeline of Defence Leaders

This timeline shows the different people who have held the top defence roles in the UK since 1936.

John Healey (politician) Grant Shapps Ben Wallace (politician) Penny Mordaunt Gavin Williamson Michael Fallon Philip Hammond Liam Fox Bob Ainsworth John Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness Des Browne John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan Geoff Hoon George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen Michael Portillo Malcom Rifkind Tom King George Younger Michael Heseltine John Nott Francis Pym Fred Mulley Roy Mason Ian Gilmour Peter Carrington, 6th Baron Carrington Denis Healey Peter Thorneycraft Harold Watkinson Duncan Sandys Antony Head Walter Monckton Selwyn Lloyd Harold Macmillan Harold Alexander Emanuel Shinwell A. V. Alexander Clement Attlee Winston Churchill Ernle Chatfield Thomas Inskip
kids search engine
Secretary of State for Defence Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.