View source for Liam Fox

{{Short description|British politician (born 1961)}}
{{other people}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix    = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name                = Sir Liam Fox
| honorific-suffix    = 
| image               = Official portrait of Dr Liam Fox crop 2.jpg
| caption             = Official portrait, 2017
| office              = [[Secretary of State for International Trade]]
| primeminister       = [[Theresa May]]
| term_start          = 13 July 2016
| term_end            = 24 July 2019
| predecessor         = ''Office established''
| successor           = [[Liz Truss]]
| office1             = [[President of the Board of Trade]]
| primeminister1      = [[Theresa May]]
| term_start1         = 19 July 2016
| term_end1           = 24 July 2019
| predecessor1        = [[Greg Clark]]
| successor1          = [[Liz Truss]]
| office2             = [[Secretary of State for Defence]]
| primeminister2      = [[David Cameron]]
| term_start2         = 12 May 2010
| term_end2           = 14 October 2011
| predecessor2        = [[Bob Ainsworth]]
| successor2          = [[Philip Hammond]]
| office3             = [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]]
| leader3             = [[Michael Howard]]
| term_start3         = 6 November 2003
| term_end3           = 4 May 2005<br />Serving with [[The Lord Saatchi]]
| predecessor3        = [[Theresa May]]
| successor3          = [[Francis Maude]]
| office4             = [[Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs]]
| primeminister4      = [[John Major]]
| term_start4         = 23 July 1996
| term_end4           = 1 May 1997
| predecessor4        = [[Mark Lennox-Boyd]]
| successor4          = [[Elizabeth Symons, Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean|The Baroness Symons]]
| office5             = [[Lord Commissioner of the Treasury]]
| primeminister5      = [[John Major]]
| term_start5         = 28 November 1995
| term_end5           = 23 July 1996
| predecessor5        = [[David Willetts]]
| successor5          = [[Patrick McLoughlin]]
{{Collapsed infobox section begin|last=yes|[[Shadow cabinet]] posts
|titlestyle = border:1px dashed lightgrey}}{{Infobox officeholder|embed = yes
| office6 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Defence]]
| leader6 = [[David Cameron]]
| term_start6 = 6 December 2005
| term_end6 = 11 May 2010
| predecessor6 = [[Michael Ancram]]
| successor6 = [[Bob Ainsworth]]
| office7 = [[Shadow Foreign Secretary]]
| leader7 = [[Michael Howard]]
| term_start7 = 10 May 2005
| term_end7 = 6 December 2005
| predecessor7 = [[Michael Ancram]]
| successor7 = [[William Hague]]
| office8 = [[Shadow Secretary of State for Health]]
| leader8 = [[William Hague]]<br />[[Iain Duncan Smith]]
| term_start8 = 15 June 1999
| term_end8 = 6 November 2003
| predecessor8 = [[Ann Widdecombe]]
| successor8 = [[Tim Yeo]]
| office9 = [[Shadow Cabinet of William Hague|Shadow Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson]]
| leader9 = [[William Hague]]
| term_start9 = 1 June 1998
| term_end9 = 15 June 1999
| predecessor9 = [[Michael Ancram]]
| successor9 = [[George Young, Baron Young of Cookham|George Young]]
{{Collapsed infobox section end}}
}}
| office11            = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]]<br />for [[North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|North Somerset]]<br />{{nobold|[[Woodspring (UK Parliament constituency)|Woodspring]] (1992–2010)}}
| term_start11        = 9 April 1992
| term_end11          = 30 May 2024
| predecessor11       = [[Paul Dean, Baron Dean of Harptree|Sir Paul Dean]]
| successor11         = [[Sadik Al-Hassan]]
| majority11          = 
| birth_date          = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1961|9|22}}
| birth_place         = [[East Kilbride]], Scotland
| party               = [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| spouse              = {{marriage|Jesme Baird|17 December 2005}}
| residence           = [[Tickenham]], [[Somerset]], England
| alma_mater          = [[University of Glasgow]] ([[Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery|MB ChB]])
| website             = {{url|liamfox.co.uk|Official website}}
| module              = {{Infobox medical details
| profession = [[General practitioner]]<br />[[Royal Army Medical Corps|Civilian army general practitioner]]
| field = 
| work_institutions =
| specialism = 
| research_field = 
| notable_works = 
| prizes = 
}}
}}'''Sir Liam Fox''' (born 22 September 1961) is a British politician who served as [[Secretary of State for International Trade]] from 2016 to 2019 and [[Secretary of State for Defence]] from 2010 to 2011. A member of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], he was the [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|Member of Parliament]] (MP) for [[North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|North Somerset]], formerly [[Woodspring (UK Parliament constituency)|Woodspring]], from 1992 to 2024.

Fox studied medicine at the [[University of Glasgow]] and worked as a [[General practitioner|GP]] and [[Royal Army Medical Corps|civilian army medical GP]] before being elected as an MP. After holding several ministerial roles under [[John Major]], Fox served as [[Department for Constitutional Affairs|Constitutional Affairs Spokesman]] from 1998 to 1999, [[Shadow Health Secretary]] from 1999 to 2003, [[Chairman of the Conservative Party]] from 2003 to 2005, [[Shadow Foreign Secretary]] in 2005 and [[Shadow Defence Secretary]] from 2005 to 2010.

In the [[2009 expenses scandal]], he was the Shadow Cabinet minister found to have the largest over-claim on expenses and, as a result, was forced to repay the most money. In 2010, he was appointed Defence Secretary by [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] [[David Cameron]], a position from which he resigned on 14 October 2011 over allegations that he had given a close friend, [[lobbyist]] [[Adam Werritty]], inappropriate access to the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] and allowed him to join official trips overseas.

In July 2016, in the wake of the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union]], Fox was appointed the first [[Secretary of State for International Trade]] by new Prime Minister [[Theresa May]]. He was also made President of the Board of Trade. Fox has twice stood unsuccessfully for the leadership of the Conservative Party, in [[2005 Conservative Party leadership election|2005]] and [[2016 Conservative Party leadership election|2016]]. In July 2019, he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] appointed his cabinet.

He was [[Knight Bachelor|knighted]] in the [[2023 Special Honours|2023 Political Honours]] for public and political service.<ref>{{cite web |title=Political Honours conferred: December 2023 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/political-honours-conferred-december-2023 |website=[[Gov.uk]] |access-date=2 January 2024 |date=29 December 2023}}</ref>

==Early life and education==
Liam Fox was born and raised in a [[Irish Catholic|Roman Catholic family of Irish heritage]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://irishcatholic.ie/article/sad-fall-console |title=The sad fall of Console |publisher=The Irish Catholic |date=7 July 2016 |access-date=22 July 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160815121218/http://irishcatholic.ie/article/sad-fall-console |archive-date=15 August 2016 }}</ref> in [[East Kilbride, Scotland|East Kilbride]], Scotland, and brought up in a [[council house]]<ref>{{cite news |last=Deacon |first=Carol |title=North Somerset MP Liam Fox says the 'big society' is local people who support our armed forces |url=http://www.nailseapeople.co.uk/news/North-Somerset-MP-Liam-Fox-say-big-society-local/story-10057077-detail/story.html |access-date=15 September 2011 |newspaper=Nailsea People |date=6 October 2010 |page=(paragraph 5) |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120404163122/http://www.nailseapeople.co.uk/news/North-Somerset-MP-Liam-Fox-say-big-society-local/story-10057077-detail/story.html |archive-date=4 April 2012}}</ref> that his parents later [[Right to buy scheme|bought]]. His great-uncle, John Fox, was the [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] [[Provost (civil)|Provost]] of [[Motherwell]], with most of his family being Labour supporters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rise-and-fall-of-the-council-estate-boy-who-took-up-the-thatcherite-flame-2370902.html|title=Rise and fall of the council estate boy who took up the Thatcherite flame|last=McSmith|website=Independent|first=Andy|date=15 October 2011|access-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404160631/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/rise-and-fall-of-the-council-estate-boy-who-took-up-the-thatcherite-flame-2370902.html|archive-date=4 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/healthcare/article/does-popular-doctor-have-a-miracle-cure-for-partys-ills-2z050g6fmn0|title=Does popular doctor have a miracle cure for party's ills?|website=[[The Times]]|last=Rumbelow|first=Helen|date=18 October 2005|access-date=4 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190404161033/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/does-popular-doctor-have-a-miracle-cure-for-partys-ills-2z050g6fmn0|archive-date=4 April 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

Along with his brother and two sisters, he was educated in the state sector, attending St Bride's High School (now part of [[St Andrew's and St Bride's High School]]) in East Kilbride. He then studied medicine at the [[University of Glasgow]], graduating with a [[MB ChB]] in 1983. Fox is a former [[general practitioner]] (he was a GP in [[Beaconsfield]], [[Buckinghamshire]], before his election to Parliament), a former Civilian Army General Practitioner and Divisional Surgeon with [[St John Ambulance (England and the Islands)|St John Ambulance]].<ref>{{cite web|date=31 October 2011|title=Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP|url=http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Fox_Liam.aspx|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019075533/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Fox_Liam.aspx|archive-date=19 October 2011|access-date=14 November 2011|publisher=[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]}}</ref> 

==Parliamentary career==
At the [[1987 United Kingdom general election|1987 general election]], Fox stood as the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] candidate in [[Roxburgh and Berwickshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Roxburgh and Berwickshire]], coming second, with 37.2% of the vote, behind the [[Liberal Party (UK)|Liberal Party]] candidate, [[Archy Kirkwood]].<ref name="electoralcalculus1987">{{cite web |title=Election Data 1987 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054243/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1987.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=28 June 2017 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref> 

Fox was first elected to Parliament as MP for [[Woodspring (UK Parliament constituency)|Woodspring]] at the [[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992 general election]] with 54.5% of the vote and a majority of 17,509.<ref name="electoralcalculus1992">{{cite web |title=Election Data 1992 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054418/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1992ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=9 April 1992 |title=Politics Resources |url=http://www.politicsresources.net/area/uk/ge92/ge92index.htm |access-date=6 December 2010 |work=Election 1992 |publisher=Politics Resources}}</ref>

In June 1993, Fox was appointed [[Parliamentary private secretary]] to the [[Home Secretary]], [[Michael Howard]]. Thereafter, in July 1994, he was appointed an [[Whip (politics)|Assistant Government Whip]]. Following a limited government reshuffle in November 1995, he was appointed a [[Lord Commissioner of Treasury]] – a Senior Government Whip. He was [[Parliamentary under-secretary of state]] at the [[Foreign and Commonwealth Office]] from 1996 to 1997.

In 1996, he brokered an accord in [[Sri Lanka]], called the Fox [[Peacebuilding|Peace Plan]], between [[Chandrika Kumaratunga]]'s [[People's Alliance (Sri Lanka)|PA]] and the opposition [[United National Party|UNP]] of [[Ranil Wickremasinghe]], on a bipartisan approach for ending the [[ethnic war]]. In 2001, Jonathan Goodhand wrote, "However, little has happened since then to suggest that the various parties would have acted in good faith in the interests of peace."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eldis.org/vfile/upload/1/document/0708/DOC21465.pdf|title=Aid, Conflict and Peace Building in Sri Lanka|publisher=The Conflict, Security and Development Group|date=July 2001|first=Jonathan|last=Goodhand|access-date=13 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160921014524/http://www.eldis.org/vfile/upload/1/document/0708/DOC21465.pdf|archive-date=21 September 2016}}</ref>

Fox was re-elected as MP for Woodspring at the [[1997 United Kingdom general election|1997 general election]] with a decreased vote share of 44.4% and a decreased majority of 7,734.<ref name="electoralcalculus1997">{{cite web |title=Election Data 1997 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054424/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_1997.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref>[[File:Dr Liam Fox MP, Shadow Defence Secretary (4475796143).jpg|thumb|Liam Fox as Shadow Defence Secretary]]
In June 1997, Fox was appointed [[His Majesty's Most Loyal Opposition|Opposition]] [[Front Bench]] Spokesman on [[Department for Constitutional Affairs|Constitutional Affairs]] and joined the Shadow Cabinet in 1998 as the principal spokesman for Constitutional Affairs. Between 1999 and 2003, he was the [[Shadow Secretary of State for Health]].<ref name=consprofile>{{cite web|title=Liam Fox|url=https://www.conservatives.com/OurTeam/Members_of_Parliament/fox_liam|publisher=Conservative Party|access-date=24 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102180608/https://www.conservatives.com/OurTeam/Members_of_Parliament/Fox_Liam|archive-date=2 November 2015}}</ref>

Fox caused controversy in December 2000, when a joke he had told at a Westminster Christmas party, hosted by [[Shadow Foreign Secretary]] [[Francis Maude]], was reported in ''[[The Guardian]]'''s Diary column. According to the newspaper, Fox had asked a group, which included journalists, whether they had heard his new joke, before continuing: "What do you call three dogs and a blackbird?" No-one knew the answer, and Fox proceeded to finish the joke: "The [[Spice Girls]]". He then repeated it.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Norman |first=Matthew |date=2000-12-20 |title=Matthew Norman |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-matthew-norman/180055572/ |access-date=2025-08-30 |work=[[The Guardian]] |page=18}}</ref> [[BBC News Online]] wrote that the joke "could be interpreted as sexist and racist", and reported that Fox admitted telling it. He was told to apologise by the office of party leader [[William Hague]]. Fox said in a statement: "In repeating a widely-circulated joke, I very much regret if anyone was offended. I naturally apologise if any offence was caused." [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]] MP [[Denis MacShane]] told BBC News Online: "Liam Fox's covert and now open racism is an embarrassment to the Tories. William Hague should have sacked him in the summer after he said foreign doctors should sit language tests. Now he makes a racist joke about [[Mel B]] and insults every black and Asian creative artist in show business." A spokeswoman for the Spice Girls commented: "One thing is for sure, no one has ever heard of Liam Fox so no one would bother making offensive jokes about him."<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hall |first=Sarah |date=2000-12-21 |title=Tory apologises for racist joke |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-guardian-tory-apologises-for-racist/180055216/ |access-date=2025-08-30 |work=[[The Guardian]] |page=2}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=2000-12-20 |title=Senior Tory regrets Spice joke |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/1079962.stm |access-date=2025-08-30 |work=[[BBC News Online|BBC News]] |language=en-GB}}</ref>

At the [[2001 United Kingdom general election|2001 general election]], Fox was again re-elected, with a decreased vote share of 43.7% and an increased majority of 8,798.<ref name="electoralcalculus2001">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2001 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054450/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2001ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref>

In November 2003, Fox was appointed [[campaign manager]] for [[Michael Howard]] following the [[no-confidence vote]] against the Conservative's party leader, [[Iain Duncan Smith]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Howard launches Tory leadership bid|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3225947.stm|publisher=BBC|access-date=24 October 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070805113113/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3225947.stm|archive-date=5 August 2007}}</ref> Fox became [[Chairman of the Conservative Party|co-chairman of the party]] following Michael Howard's elevation to the post of party leader in November 2003.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.northsomersetconservatives.com/person/liam-fox|title=Liam Fox|publisher=North Somerset Conservatives|access-date=24 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117030805/http://www.northsomersetconservatives.com/person/liam-fox|archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> 

Fox voted for the [[2003 invasion of Iraq]]. As Shadow Defence Secretary he supported the Government's position of maintaining [[British troops]] in Iraq until the security situation allowed for a withdrawal of troops but was critical of the lack of post-invasion planning and poor equipment initially provided to British troops.<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web |last=Fox |first=Dr Liam |date=1 March 2010 |title=House of Commons Opposition Day debate on Defence |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100301/debtext/100301-0004.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416045333/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200910/cmhansrd/cm100301/debtext/100301-0004.htm |archive-date=16 April 2014 |access-date=24 March 2010}}</ref> He supported the idea of the American Surgel, believing that it was successful, and visited Iraq several times as Shadow Defence Secretary.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fox |first=Dr Liam |date=26 March 2009 |title=No more British troops without a fair deal |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/5055045/No-more-British-troops-without-a-fair-deal.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100728163026/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/5055045/No-more-British-troops-without-a-fair-deal.html |archive-date=28 July 2010 |access-date=24 March 2010 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}</ref>

Fox was again re-elected at the [[2005 United Kingdom general election|2005 general election]], with a decreased vote share of 41.8% and a decreased majority of 6,016.<ref name="electoralcalculus2005">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2005 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111015054249/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2005ob.txt |archive-date=15 October 2011 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref> After the general election he was promoted within the [[Shadow Cabinet (UK)|Shadow Cabinet]] to become Shadow Foreign Secretary. 

In September 2005, Fox announced he would join the [[2005 Conservative Party leadership election|contest to be the next leader of the Conservative party]]. His campaign theme for the leadership race was based on the "broken society" theme, which he said Conservatives could address by returning the emphasis to marriage and [[Welfare reform|reforming welfare]]. In the initial ballot of Conservative MPs, on 18 October 2005, he gained enough support (42 votes) to enter the second ballot two days later.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 October 2005 |title=Fox says he has 'great momentum' |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/4352666.stm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051110172606/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4352666.stm |archive-date=10 November 2005 |access-date=26 June 2008 |work=BBC News}}</ref> He was eliminated in the second ballot with 51 votes in third place behind [[David Cameron]] (90 votes) and [[David Davis (British politician)|David Davis]] (57 votes). Cameron, who eventually won the leadership election, gave Fox the role of [[Shadow Defence Secretary]].

In February 2008, Fox spoke in the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] in opposition to the defence provisions in the [[Lisbon Treaty]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Fox |first=Dr Liam |date=20 February 2008 |title='House of Commons Debate on the Treaty of Lisbon |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080220/debtext/80220-0014.htm#08022083000619 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141011050555/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200708/cmhansrd/cm080220/debtext/80220-0014.htm#08022083000619 |archive-date=11 October 2014 |access-date=24 March 2010}}</ref> 

Fox has been an outspoken supporter of the [[War in Afghanistan (2001–2021)|war in Afghanistan]] and the British presence there. In 2009, he was critical towards some [[NATO]] partners for not contributing enough to the effort in the more dangerous southern and eastern parts of Afghanistan.<ref>{{cite web |last=Fox |first=Dr Liam |date=28 September 2009 |title=If Afghanistan will be lost, it will be lost at home |url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2009/09/Liam_Fox_If_Afghanistan_will_be_lost_it_will_be_lost_at_home.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110622051413/https://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2009/09/Liam_Fox_If_Afghanistan_will_be_lost_it_will_be_lost_at_home.aspx |archive-date=22 June 2011 |access-date=24 March 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Copping |first1=J. |last2=Rayment |first2=S. |date=25 November 2007 |title='Armed Forces face 'failure' in Afghanistan' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1570411/Armed-Forces-face-failure-in-Afghanistan.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091230233204/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1570411/Armed-Forces-face-failure-in-Afghanistan.html |archive-date=30 December 2009 |access-date=24 March 2010 |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=28 July 2009 |title=Liam Fox demands "urgent" review of Armed Forces Compensation Scheme |url=http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/defence/page/2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415200405/http://conservativehome.blogs.com/thetorydiary/defence/page/2/ |archive-date=15 April 2010 |access-date=24 March 2010 |publisher=Conservative Home}}</ref>

Prior to the [[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010 general election]], Fox's constituency of Woodspring was abolished, and replaced with [[North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|North Somerset]]. At the general election, Fox was elected as MP for North Somerset with 49.3% of the vote and a majority of 7,862.<ref name="electoralcalculus2010">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2010 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130726162034/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2010.txt |archive-date=26 July 2013 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=7 May 2010 |title=Somerset North |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/nol/shared/election2010/results/constituency/d24.stm |access-date=7 May 2010 |work=BBC News |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

On 5 February 2013, Fox voted against a second reading of the [[Marriage (Same Sex Couples) Bill]], designed to introduce [[same-sex marriage]] in the United Kingdom.<ref>https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130205/debtext/130205-0004.htm {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305131329/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm201213/cmhansrd/cm130205/debtext/130205-0004.htm%7D|date=5 March 2016}} The House of Commons.2013.Marriage (Same Sex Couples)Bill 2012–2013.</ref> He described David Cameron's plans to legalise same-sex marriage as "divisive, ill thought through and constitutionally wrong", arguing that redefining marriage for the majority to satisfy a "small, yet vocal, minority" was not a good basis for a stable, tolerant society.<ref>{{cite news |title=Liam Fox criticises gay marriage plan |url=https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jan/10/gay-marriage-plan-criticised-liam-fox |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181023080037/https://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/jan/10/gay-marriage-plan-criticised-liam-fox |archive-date=23 October 2018 |access-date=22 October 2018 |work=The Guardian}}</ref>

Fox was re-elected as MP for North Somerset at the [[2015 United Kingdom general election|2015 general election]] with an increased vote share of 53.5% and an increased majority of 23,099.<ref name="electoralcalculus">{{cite web |title=Election Data 2015 |url=http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151017112223/http://www.electoralcalculus.co.uk/electdata_2015.txt |archive-date=17 October 2015 |access-date=17 October 2015 |publisher=[[Electoral Calculus]]}}</ref>

In late June 2016, Fox announced on [[LBC]] that he intended to run for the [[2016 Conservative Party leadership election|leadership of the Conservative party]] once again, after David Cameron resigned following the result of the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|EU referendum]], in which Fox supported leaving the EU.<ref name="Telegraph Reporters 2016">{{cite web |date=4 July 2016 |title=Liam Fox: Meet the Conservative Party leadership candidate |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/liam-fox-meet-the-conservative-party-leadership-candidate/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160702141520/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/0/liam-fox-meet-the-conservative-party-leadership-candidate/ |archive-date=2 July 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016 |website=The Telegraph}}</ref><ref name="Financial Express Reuters 2016">{{cite web |date=4 July 2016 |title=British PM candidate Liam Fox says no place for free movement in trade deal |url=http://www.financialexpress.com/article/world-news/british-pm-candidate-liam-fox-says-no-place-for-free-movement-in-trade-deal/306603/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705174123/http://www.financialexpress.com/article/world-news/british-pm-candidate-liam-fox-says-no-place-for-free-movement-in-trade-deal/306603/ |archive-date=5 July 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016 |website=The Financial Express |agency=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=30 June 2016 |title=Michael Gove and Theresa May head five-way Conservative race |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36671336 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160630103718/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36671336 |archive-date=30 June 2016 |access-date=30 June 2016 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> During the announcement of his candidacy, he said that the UK should trigger [[Article 50]] by the end of 2016 so it could leave the EU by 2019, specifying 1 January 2019 as the date on which the UK should leave.<ref name="Evening Standard leadership 2016">{{cite web |last=Mann |first=Sebastian |date=3 July 2016 |title=Brexit could actually happen on January 1, 2019 |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/conservative-leadership-election-liam-fox-pencils-in-january-1-2019-for-brexit-a3286711.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160703113551/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/conservative-leadership-election-liam-fox-pencils-in-january-1-2019-for-brexit-a3286711.html |archive-date=3 July 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016 |website=Evening Standard}}</ref><ref name="BBC News leadership 2016">{{cite web |date=4 July 2016 |title=Tory leadership: Liam Fox backs EU exit by 2019 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36704612 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160707025736/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36704612 |archive-date=7 July 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016 |website=BBC News}}</ref> He stated that he would not allow freedom of movement to be considered as part of any alternative trade arrangement with the EU.<ref name="Financial Express Reuters 2016" /> Fox promised to increase defence spending, stating that he would particularly like to see "an increase in the size of the Navy and our cyber capability".<ref name="Evening Standard leadership 2016" /> He also promised to scrap [[HS2]], spending the £55&nbsp;billion set aside for the project on regional train lines, cut taxes, cut welfare spending, create a new governmental department for "trade and foreign affairs" and review the aid budget.<ref name="Evening Standard leadership 2 2016">{{cite web |last=Watts |first=Joseph |date=4 July 2016 |title=Liam Fox will 'scrap HS2' if he becomes PM |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/liam-fox-ill-scrap-hs2-if-i-become-pm-a3287531.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704225113/http://www.standard.co.uk/news/politics/liam-fox-ill-scrap-hs2-if-i-become-pm-a3287531.html |archive-date=4 July 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016 |website=Evening Standard}}</ref><ref name="Telegraph Ross 2016">{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Tim |date=2 July 2016 |title=Britain is safe with me, says Liam Fox as he pledges to boost defence spending if he becomes the next Prime Minister |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/02/britain-is-safe-with-me-says-liam-fox-after-he-pledges-to-boost/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160704032711/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/07/02/britain-is-safe-with-me-says-liam-fox-after-he-pledges-to-boost/ |archive-date=4 July 2016 |access-date=4 July 2016 |website=The Telegraph}}</ref> Fox was eliminated in the first ballot, finishing in last place with 16 votes.<ref>{{cite news |date=5 July 2016 |title=Tory leadership: Theresa May tops first vote but Liam Fox out |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36718196 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160705181324/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36718196 |archive-date=5 July 2016 |access-date=5 July 2016 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> [[Theresa May]] went on to win the leadership and become [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]] and gave Fox the job of [[International Trade Secretary]].

At the snap [[2017 United Kingdom general election|2017 general election]], Fox was again re-elected, with an increased vote share of 54.2% and a decreased majority of 17,103.<ref>{{cite news |title=Somerset North |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/politics/constituencies/E14000850 |access-date=9 June 2017 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> He was again re-elected at the [[2019 United Kingdom general election|2019 general election]], with a decreased vote share of 52.9% and an increased majority of 17,536.<ref>{{cite web |title=Statement of Persons Nominated |url=https://www.n-somerset.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/1119-statement-of-persons-nominated-notice-of-poll-and-situation-of-polling-stations-North-Someret-parliamentary-consituency.pdf}}</ref>

On 8 July 2020, the UK government nominated Fox as a candidate for [[Director-General of the World Trade Organization|Director-General of the World Trade Organisation]].<ref>{{cite news |date=8 July 2020 |title=Factbox: Who's bidding to be next World Trade Organization chief? |url=https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-trade-wto-factbox/factbox-whos-bidding-to-be-next-world-trade-organization-chief-idUKKBN2492O2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200710133156/https://uk.reuters.com/article/us-trade-wto-factbox/factbox-whos-bidding-to-be-next-world-trade-organization-chief-idUKKBN2492O2 |archive-date=10 July 2020 |access-date=10 July 2020 |work=Reuters}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Candidates for DG selection process 2020 |url=https://www.wto.org/english/thewto_e/dg_e/dgsel20_e/dgsel20_e.htm |access-date=10 July 2020 |work=World Trade Organization}}</ref> Fox's main rival for the nomination, the Labour peer [[Peter Mandelson]], was overlooked due to his opposition to [[Brexit]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Parker |first1=George |last2=Brunsden |first2=Jim |date=8 July 2020 |title=UK set to nominate Liam Fox for top WTO job |url=https://www.ft.com/content/5f5d1d87-afc3-419f-b8fb-7dbd038c3163 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221210/https://www.ft.com/content/5f5d1d87-afc3-419f-b8fb-7dbd038c3163 |archive-date=10 December 2022 |access-date=10 July 2020 |work=The Financial Times}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Merrick |first=Rob |date=22 June 2020 |title=Liam Fox being lined up as Britain's candidate to lead World Trade Organisation |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liam-fox-wto-world-trade-job-brexit-a9578551.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liam-fox-wto-world-trade-job-brexit-a9578551.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |access-date=22 June 2020 |work=The Independent}}</ref> Fox progressed to the second round of the selection process.<ref>{{cite web |title=Dr Liam Fox through to 2nd round in WTO Director General contest |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/dr-liam-fox-through-to-2nd-round-in-wto-director-general-contest |access-date=18 September 2020 |website=gov.uk |publisher=Department for International Trade}}</ref> He did not become one of the two candidates to enter the final round, who were South Korea's [[Yoo Myung-hee]] and Nigeria's [[Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala]], and was knocked out on 7 October.<ref>{{cite news |last=Stone |first=Jon |date=8 October 2020 |title=Liam Fox fails in bid to lead World Trade Organisation |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liam-fox-wto-election-boris-johnson-trade-bexit-b882783.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220614/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liam-fox-wto-election-boris-johnson-trade-bexit-b882783.html |archive-date=14 June 2022 |access-date=15 October 2020 |work=The Independent}}</ref>

In 2021 Fox was the sponsor of a [[Down Syndrome Bill]], an Act to "make provision about meeting the needs of persons with Down syndrome."<ref>{{cite web |date=7 October 2021 |title=Down's syndrome bill could be world's first, says former cabinet minister |url=https://www.disabilitynewsservice.com/downs-syndrome-bill-could-be-worlds-first-says-former-cabinet-minister/ |access-date=27 November 2021 |website=Disability News Service}}</ref>

In the [[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024 general election]] Fox was defeated by the Labour candidate, [[Sadik Al-Hassan]].<ref>{{cite news |title=North Somerset – General election results 2024 |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/election/2024/uk/constituencies/E14001399 |access-date=12 July 2024 |work=BBC News }}</ref>

==Secretary of State for Defence==
[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 100608-F-6655M-002 - Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates poses for photos with British Defense Secretary Liam Fox at the Lancaster House in London on June 8, 2010.jpg|thumb|Fox with US Defense Secretary [[Robert Gates]] in 2010]]
Fox was appointed as [[Secretary of State for Defence]] in the [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|cabinet of David Cameron]] on 12 May 2010. 

In July 2010, he said that the dire state of the public finances meant the [[Armed Forces of the United Kingdom|Armed Forces]] could no longer be equipped to cover every conceivable danger. He said that the strongest signal that it will have to give up one or more of these capabilities, which have been maintained at the same time as contributing to collective security pacts such as [[NATO]]. "We don't have the money as a country to protect ourselves against every potential future threat," he said. "We have to look at where we think the real risks will come from, where the real threats will come from and we need to deal with that accordingly. The Russians are not going to come over the European plain any day soon," he added. Fox's admission cast doubt on the future of the 25,000 troops currently [[British Forces Germany|stationed in Germany]]. The Defence Secretary had previously said that he hoped to withdraw them at some point, leaving Britain without a presence in the country for the first time since 1945.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/7905649/Britain-no-longer-has-the-cash-to-defend-itself-from-every-threat-says-Liam-Fox.html|title=Britain no longer has the cash to defend itself from every threat, says Liam Fox|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=22 July 2010|access-date=14 November 2011|first=Thomas|last=Harding|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100725092313/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/7905649/Britain-no-longer-has-the-cash-to-defend-itself-from-every-threat-says-Liam-Fox.html|archive-date=25 July 2010}}</ref>

The [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD) faced budget cuts of up to 8% over the next five years, according to some analysts, and the department was grappling with a £37 billion shortfall on programmes it has signed up to. The results of the [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|Strategic Defence and Security Review]] (SDSR) were published on 19 October 2010. Speaking in September 2010 at a meeting in Paris with his French counterpart [[Hervé Morin]] on the possibility of sharing [[aircraft carrier]]s with the [[French Navy]], Fox said, "I think it is unrealistic to share an aircraft carrier but, in other areas like tactical lift we can see what we can do." He added: "I can't deny that there is an element of urgency added by budget concerns."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/defence/7980904/UK-and-France-wont-share-aircraft-carriers-says-Defence-Secretary-Liam-Fox.html|title=UK and France won't share aircraft carriers, says Defence Secretary Liam Fox|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=3 September 2010|access-date=14 November 2011|first=Amy|last=Wilson|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906170518/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/industry/defence/7980904/UK-and-France-wont-share-aircraft-carriers-says-Defence-Secretary-Liam-Fox.html|archive-date=6 September 2010}}</ref>

[[File:Defense.gov News Photo 100922-D-7203C-001 - Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates escorts British Defense Minister Liam Fox through an honor cordon and into the Pentagon on Sept. 22, 2010.jpg|thumb|Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates escorts Fox through an honor cordon and into [[The Pentagon]] in 2010]]
In September 2010, in a private letter to [[David Cameron]], Fox refused to back any "draconian cuts" in the Armed Forces at a time when Britain was at war. The letter was written the night before a [[National Security Council (UK)|National Security Council (NSC)]] meeting on the [[Strategic Defence and Security Review 2010|Strategic Defence and Security Review]] (SDSR). In the letter, Fox wrote that: "Frankly this process is looking less and less defensible as a proper SDSR (Strategic Defence and Strategy Review) and more like a 'super CSR' (Comprehensive Spending Review). If it continues on its current trajectory it is likely to have grave political consequences for us". Fox continued saying that "Our decisions today will limit severely the options available to this and all future governments. The range of operations that we can do today we will simply not be able to do in the future. In particular, it would place at risk."<ref>{{cite news|last=Fox|first=Liam|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8031385/Defence-cuts-Liam-Foxs-leaked-letter-in-full.html|title=Defence cuts: Liam Fox's leaked letter in full|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=28 September 2010|access-date=24 July 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110121180047/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8031385/Defence-cuts-Liam-Foxs-leaked-letter-in-full.html|archive-date=21 January 2011}}</ref>

In February 2011, Fox criticised "ballooning" spending in his own department. The top 15 major procurement projects were running at £8.8&nbsp;billion over budget and, between them, were delayed by a total of 32 years. That included the [[A400M]] transporter aircraft order that was £603&nbsp;million over budget and six years behind schedule. Fox criticised what he called a "conspiracy of optimism based on poor cost-estimation, unrealistic timescales" at the MoD and in industry. "These practices in the MOD would simply not be tolerated in the private sector, and they will no longer be tolerated in the MoD."<ref>{{cite news|last=Whitehead|first=Tom|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8336883/Fox-to-crack-down-on-military-overspends.html|title=Fox to crack down on military overspends|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=20 February 2011|access-date=14 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110224034859/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8336883/Fox-to-crack-down-on-military-overspends.html|archive-date=24 February 2011}}</ref>

In March 2011, Fox defended the decision to make 11,000 redundancies in the armed forces, insisting that personnel who have recently returned from Afghanistan would not be sacked. Cameron had conceded that axing around 5,000 personnel from the army, 3,300 from the Navy and 2,700 from the RAF will be ''difficult'' for those affected. Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) set out plans for reducing the size of the armed forces by 17,000 in total. Some of that number would be met by not replacing people who were retiring or leaving for other reasons. Defence officials said 11,000 personnel still faced being redundant on a compulsory or voluntary basis. Fox said it was essential that service personnel were made "fully aware of the options available and the time-scales involved". "That means that a timetable needs to be adhered to for the sake of themselves and their families," he said. "It would simply be wrong to alter that timetable for the convenience of the Government."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/8357092/Liam-Fox-armed-forces-job-losses-will-be-a-painful-process.html|title=Liam Fox: armed forces job losses will be a painful process|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=2 March 2011|access-date=14 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120411011310/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/8357092/Liam-Fox-armed-forces-job-losses-will-be-a-painful-process.html|archive-date=11 April 2012}}</ref>

In light of the [[2011 Libyan civil war]], Fox warned that Libya could end up split in two as [[Muammar Gaddafi]] unleashed the full fury of his military arsenal, sending warplanes and ground troops to attack rebel-held positions across the country. "We could see the Gaddafi forces centred around Tripoli," Fox said. "We could see a de facto partition of the country."<ref>{{cite news|last=Blomfield|first=Adrian|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8364997/Libya-could-split-says-Liam-Fox-as-regime-hits-rebels-hard.html|title=Libya could split, says Liam Fox, as regime hits rebels hard|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=6 March 2011|access-date=14 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310025641/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/africaandindianocean/libya/8364997/Libya-could-split-says-Liam-Fox-as-regime-hits-rebels-hard.html|archive-date=10 March 2011}}</ref>

In May 2011, Fox opposed plans to sharply increase Britain's [[Department for International Development|aid budget]], in a direct challenge to David Cameron's authority. In a leaked letter to the Prime Minister, Fox said he could not accept plans to increase the development budget to 0.7 percent of the gross domestic product. The aid pledge, made in the Conservative election manifesto last year, was at the heart of Cameron's attempts to change his party's image. It has gained opponents among right-wing Tories, many of whom voted for Fox when he fought Cameron for the party leadership in 2005. "I cannot support the proposal in its current form," Fox told the Prime Minister. Fox suggested that development funding should be diverted to the defence budget, writing that reneging on the aid pledge would release more public money to be spent on "other activities or programmes rather than aid". The ''Telegraph''{{'s}} James Kirkup said the leak was increasing suspicion among Cameron's allies that the Defence Secretary was trying to undermine the Prime Minister.<ref>{{cite news|last=Kirkup|first=James|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/8517782/Liam-Fox-attacks-David-Cameron-over-pledge-to-raise-aid-budget.html|title=Liam Fox attacks David Cameron over pledge to raise aid budget|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=17 May 2011|access-date=14 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004164635/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/8517782/Liam-Fox-attacks-David-Cameron-over-pledge-to-raise-aid-budget.html|archive-date=4 October 2011}}</ref>

After negative comments by Sir [[Simon Bryant (RAF officer)|Simon Bryant]] and Sir [[Mark Stanhope]], Secretary Fox said admirals and air marshals who have voiced concerns were giving strength to Muammar Gaddafi's regime. He also warned that high-ranking members of the Armed Forces were facing the sack because the Government wanted to reduce bureaucracy by cutting "the star count". ''The Daily Telegraph'' had learned that the redundancies would include up 500 starred officers, equivalent to the rank of an [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Army brigadier]] and above. Fox said: "We must be very careful, those of us who have authority in defence, when discussing the sustainability of a mission. People's lives are at stake and there can only be one message that goes out on Libya." [[Sandy Woodward|Admiral Sir John "Sandy" Woodward]], a former deputy chief of the defence staff, suggested Fox was trying to blame military chiefs for "his own failings". He said: "Of course the service chiefs should not be talking outside the MoD, but when politicians have got it so wrong they have no other choice."<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8602016/Outspoken-Forces-chiefs-risk-lives-warns-Liam-Fox.html |title=Outspoken Forces chiefs risk lives, warns Liam Fox |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 June 2011 |access-date=14 November 2011 |first=Thomas |last=Harding |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110630232227/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8602016/Outspoken-Forces-chiefs-risk-lives-warns-Liam-Fox.html |archive-date=30 June 2011 }}</ref>

===Levene report===

On 27 June 2011, Fox announced that [[Peter Levene, Baron Levene of Portsoken|Baron Levene]] had completed his report<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8600041/MoD-is-bureaucratic-bloated-and-indecisive-warns-report.html |title=MoD is bureaucratic, bloated and indecisive, warns report |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=27 June 2011 |access-date=14 November 2011 |first=James |last=Kirkup |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110831153540/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/defence/8600041/MoD-is-bureaucratic-bloated-and-indecisive-warns-report.html |archive-date=31 August 2011 }}</ref> on the reform of the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|MoD]] which suggested that they could cut the number of senior officers and could also lead to ministerial posts being axed. The army, navy and air force would each be run by a single chief. Currently, the services have two commanders, one in charge of strategy, the second in charge of day-to-day operations. The reforms would see operational control pushed down the [[chain of command]]. In addition, the three service chiefs will be removed from the [[Defence Council of the United Kingdom|defence board]], a powerful committee the defence secretary chairs. The overall head of the military, the [[Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)|chief of the defence staff]], currently, General Sir [[David Richards (British Army officer)|David Richards]], will represent them. A committee chaired by an independent non-executive director, chosen by the defence secretary, will be in charge of appointments to the services' top ranks. The MoD is expected to axe up to 8,000 civil servants in 2012. Senior commanders would be given more overall control of their budgets and internal appointments.<ref>{{cite news |first=Nick |last=Hopkins |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jun/27/uk-armed-forces-cuts-fox |title=Liam Fox backs plan to cut swath through armed forces' top ranks |work=The Guardian |date=27 June 2011 |access-date=14 November 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714203232/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2011/jun/27/uk-armed-forces-cuts-fox |archive-date=14 July 2015 }}</ref>

The report also suggested that a new [[Joint Forces Command]] structure should be created with senior appointments in the MoD lasting longer than every two years by making sure people stay in post for longer. Levene said that "finance and the need for affordability are not regarded as sufficiently important throughout the organisation." He said that the "lack of trust" which pervades the MoD has led to a tendency for those at the top to try to micromanage, while the individual services look out for themselves rather than thinking of defence as a whole. This has led to a "predisposition to overcomplicate ... and a culture of reinventing the wheel". The role of the chief of the defence staff should also be enhanced so that "he alone will be responsible for representing the military voice." Levene says that the new defence board "should be the primary decision-making body for non-operational matters", and should meet 10 times a year. It will have nine members, but only one will be from the military, the chief of the defence staff, currently General Sir David Richards.<ref>{{cite news|last=Hopkins|first=Nick|url=https://www.theguardian.com/news/defence-and-security-blog/2011/jun/27/mod-armed-forces-shakeup-liam-fox|title=MoD and armed forces shakeup – in detail|work=The Guardian|date=27 June 2011|access-date=14 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518212306/http://www.theguardian.com/news/defence-and-security-blog/2011/jun/27/mod-armed-forces-shakeup-liam-fox|archive-date=18 May 2015}}</ref>

===Defence and Security Review===
[[File:Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP (4799289920).jpg|thumb|150px|Liam Fox at [[Chatham House]] in 2010]]
In a speech on the future of the Armed Forces to the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]] on 19 October 2010 Prime Minister [[David Cameron]] set out plans that would mean cuts: 7,000 jobs go in the [[British Army]]; 5,000 in the [[Royal Navy]]; 5,000 in the [[Royal Air Force]]; and 25,000 civilian jobs at the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]. In terms of equipment, the RAF would lose the [[Nimrod reconnaissance aircraft]] programme, the entire [[Harrier jump jet|Harrier]] fleet would be scrapped, and bases will be turned over to the Army. The Army will have its tanks and heavy artillery cut by 40%, and half of the soldiers in Germany will return to the UK by 2015, with the rest brought home by 2030 and housed in former RAF bases. The Navy would have its destroyer and frigate fleet cut from 23 to 19 (by cutting the [[Type 22 frigate]]s) and will be provided with less expensive frigates. It will be affected by the loss of the Harriers. Overall, the defence budget was to be cut by 8% but Cameron insisted that Britain would continue to meet the [[NATO]] target of spending 2% of GDP on defence.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk">{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8073455/Defence-review-David-Cameron-says-42000-jobs-to-go.html |title=Defence review: David Cameron says 42,000 jobs to go |work=The Daily Telegraph |date=19 October 2010 |access-date=14 November 2011 |first=Andy |last=Bloxham |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110303145454/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/defence/8073455/Defence-review-David-Cameron-says-42000-jobs-to-go.html |archive-date=3 March 2011 }}</ref>

In the same speech Cameron announced a national cyber security programme, costing £500&nbsp;million, "to fix shortfalls in cyber infrastructure", while more focus will be given to tackling terrorists such as Al Qaeda and dissident Irish republicans in what he said would be "continuing investment in our world class intelligence agencies". Army numbers will fall to 95,500 by 2015 – 7,000 fewer than today – but ground forces will continue to have vital operational role in the future, he said.<ref name="telegraph.co.uk"/>

===Resignation===
It was revealed that Fox's close friend, best man and former business partner [[Adam Werritty]]<ref>{{cite news|date=13 October 2011|title=Wealthy donors 'paid for Werritty to advise Liam Fox'|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-15269215|access-date=9 January 2022}}</ref> had made visits to Fox at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) in Whitehall on 22 occasions in 16 months; Werritty was not security-cleared with the MoD. Additionally, over a 17-month period, ending October 2011, Werritty was present at 40 of Fox's 70 recorded engagements. The uncertain nature of Werritty's relationship with Fox led to an investigation by senior civil servants, initially the MoD's Permanent Secretary, Ursula Brennan and latterly the Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell.<ref>{{cite web|title=Liam Fox under increasing pressure over 'adviser' Adam Werritty|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8814924/Liam-Fox-under-increasing-pressure-over-adviser-Adam-Werritty.html|access-date=9 January 2022|website=www.telegraph.co.uk|date=8 October 2011 }}</ref><ref name="BBC News">{{cite news|date=14 October 2011|title=Liam Fox friend 'funded by private intelligence firm'|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-15302045|access-date=9 January 2022}}</ref> Fox said that Werrity had never worked for him either in an official or unofficial capacity despite allegations that Fox was using a source of advice outside the Civil Service, paid for by private funds, allegedly a private intelligence firm.<ref name="BBC News"/> Disclosure of increasing amounts of detail of their contact, funding and explanations of their relationship led to Fox's resignation on 14 October 2011 in advance of O'Donnell's report of his investigation into Fox breaking the Ministerial code by letting his friend Adam Werritty into defence meetings.<ref>{{cite news|date=14 October 2011|title=Liam Fox quits as defence secretary|work=BBC News|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-15300751|access-date=9 January 2022}}</ref>

The Cabinet Secretary's investigation into the incident concluded that Fox's conduct constituted a "clear breach of the Ministerial code" and that his actions posed a "security risk".<ref>{{cite web|title=Allegations against Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP – Report by the Cabinet Secretary|url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/60517/allegations-fox.pdf|website=UK Government Website}}</ref>

==Secretary of State for International Trade==
After [[Theresa May]] became [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]] in July 2016, Fox was appointed Secretary of State for International Trade, responsible for helping to secure trade deals with other countries following [[Brexit]].<ref>{{cite news|date=14 July 2016|title=Liam Fox is back in government just five years after resigning in disgrace|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/who-is-liam-fox-international-trade-secretary-brexit-theresa-may-cabinet-a7136011.html|url-status=live|access-date=14 July 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160715153637/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/who-is-liam-fox-international-trade-secretary-brexit-theresa-may-cabinet-a7136011.html|archive-date=15 July 2016}}</ref>

''[[The Wall Street Journal]]'' reported Fox as saying he would prefer a free trade agreement with the EU rather than be part of the [[EU customs union]], which he said could restrict Britain's ability to negotiate lower tariffs with other trading partners.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-fox-idUKKCN10612L|title=Early 2017 could be best time to trigger Article 50 – Liam Fox|date=26 July 2016|work=Reuters|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160729082851/http://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-britain-eu-fox-idUKKCN10612L|archive-date=29 July 2016}}</ref>

In a September 2016 speech on international trade, Fox said there needed to be a change in British business culture, arguing that exporting was a "duty" which companies neglected because "it might be too difficult or too time-consuming or because they can't play golf on a Friday afternoon".<ref>{{cite news|title=Britain 'too lazy and fat', says Trade Secretary Liam Fox|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37324491|access-date=10 September 2016|publisher=BBC|date=10 September 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160910042211/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-37324491|archive-date=10 September 2016}}</ref> In April 2017, he was criticised for a trade visit to the Philippines, where he acknowledged "shared values" when speaking to [[Philippines President]] [[Rodrigo Duterte]], heavily criticised for the increase in extrajudicial killings in the Philippines.<ref name=guardian-20170404>{{cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/liam-fox-meets-philippine-president-rodrigo-duterte |title=Dismay over Liam Fox's claim of 'shared values' with Duterte's brutal regime |first1=Oliver |last1=Holmes |first2=Anushka |last2=Asthana |first3=Rowena |last3=Mason |newspaper=The Guardian |date=4 April 2017 |access-date=6 April 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405182741/https://www.theguardian.com/world/2017/apr/04/liam-fox-meets-philippine-president-rodrigo-duterte |archive-date=5 April 2017 }}</ref><ref name=times-20170405>{{cite news |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/fox-we-share-values-with-nation-led-by-the-punisher-b9lgnpv9j |title=Fox: We share values with nation led by the Punisher |first=Sam |last=Coates |newspaper=[[The Times]] |location=London |date=5 April 2017 |access-date=6 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170405042125/https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/fox-we-share-values-with-nation-led-by-the-punisher-b9lgnpv9j |archive-date=5 April 2017 |url-status=live }}</ref>

In 2017, Fox announced a new [[board of trade]] which would meet four times a year to "ensure the benefits of free trade are spread throughout the UK." The announcement was criticised by Liberal Democrat MP [[Tom Brake]], who said the board was a "job-creation scheme" for Fox. A DIT spokesman said it was a "technicality" that Fox was the sole member of the board, because of a constitutional convention that full membership is only for privy counsellors.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/12/liam-fox-only-official-member-new-uk-board-of-trade|title=Liam Fox ridiculed for being only member of new UK board of trade|work=The Guardian|first=Jessica |last=Elgot|date=12 October 2017|access-date=14 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014085112/https://www.theguardian.com/business/2017/oct/12/liam-fox-only-official-member-new-uk-board-of-trade|archive-date=14 October 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/international-trade-secretary-dr-liam-fox-convenes-a-new-board-of-trade-to-ensure-the-benefits-of-free-trade-are-spread-throughout-the-uk|title=International Trade Secretary Dr Liam Fox convenes a new Board of Trade to ensure the benefits of free trade are spread throughout the UK|author=Department for International Trade|date=12 October 2017|access-date=14 October 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014183429/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/international-trade-secretary-dr-liam-fox-convenes-a-new-board-of-trade-to-ensure-the-benefits-of-free-trade-are-spread-throughout-the-uk|archive-date=14 October 2017}}</ref> In July 2019, he lost his cabinet position when new Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] made a cabinet reshuffle.<ref>{{cite web|date=24 July 2019|title=Boris Johnson conducts cabinet bloodbath to fill his government with Brexit loyalists|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-cabinet-resignations-mordaunt-fox-clark-grayling-a9019341.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191017161254/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-cabinet-resignations-mordaunt-fox-clark-grayling-a9019341.html|archive-date=17 October 2019|access-date=22 October 2019|website=The Independent}}</ref>

==Political positions==

===Finances===
Fox was a registered shareholder of the medical educational firm Arrest Ltd, which was dissolved in 2010.{{citation needed|date=August 2025}}<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.theyworkforyou.com/mp/liam_fox/woodspringFox |title=They work for you |publisher=They work for you |access-date=14 November 2011}}</ref> 

Fox accepted a £50,000 donation from [[Jon Moulton]], whose investment firm, Better Capital, later went on to own Gardner Aerospace, an aerospace metallic manufactured details supplier which includes component parts for both military and civilian aircraft.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.gardner-aerospace.com/index.htm| title=Scots tory Liam Fox claims £19,000 mobile phone bill on expenses| access-date=23 March 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100525215416/http://www.gardner-aerospace.com/index.htm| archive-date=25 May 2010 }}</ref> This potentially exposed Fox to [[conflict of interest]] but neither Fox nor Moulton violated any rules with this donation.<ref>{{cite news|first=Francis |last=Elliott |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article7019886.ece |title=Liam Fox accepted £50,000 from defence firm donor|newspaper=[[The Times]]|date=9 February 2010}}{{dead link|date=September 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}{{subscription required}}</ref>

In 2023 the Good Law Project revealed that Fox had personally received a £10,000 cash donation in January 2023 by Aquind, a British cabling company controlled by Russian oil tycoon Viktor Fedotov, further fuelling ongoing investigation into Tory funds given by Russian donors.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://goodlawproject.org/revealed-the-tories-are-still-receiving-funds-from-russia-linked-donors/ | title=Revealed: The Tories are still receiving funds from Russia-linked donors | date=11 April 2023 }}</ref>

===Bahrain===
In March 2013, Fox was one of the chief guests at a conference in [[Bahrain]] designed to rally Western opinion to the side of the [[Bahraini government|Bahrain government]] in its struggle against the [[Arab Spring]].<ref>{{cite news |first=Andy |last=McSmith |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liam-fox-faces-questions-over-proregime-bahrain-summit-8552434.html |title=Liam Fox faces questions over pro-regime Bahrain summit |newspaper=The Independent |date=28 March 2013 |access-date=30 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925171251/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/liam-fox-faces-questions-over-proregime-bahrain-summit-8552434.html |archive-date=25 September 2015 }}</ref> [[File:liam iraq.jpg|thumb|Liam Fox in Basra, Iraq September 2008]]In August 2014, Fox argued that the UK should start bombing [[United Kingdom and ISIL|Islamist extremists in northern Iraq]].<ref name="ft-20140822">{{cite news |url=https://www.ft.com/content/215c823e-29e4-11e4-8139-00144feabdc0 |title=Britain should join bombing of Isis in Iraq, says Liam Fox |first=Kiran |last=Stacey |newspaper=Financial Times |date=22 August 2014 |access-date=6 November 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140824182542/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/215c823e-29e4-11e4-8139-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=24 August 2014 }}</ref> The following month [[Operation Shader|this became government policy]].<ref name="GuardianLiveBlog">{{cite news|last1=Sparrow|first1=Andrew|last2=Phipps|first2=Claire|title=UK parliament approves air strikes against Isis in Iraq – as it happened|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2014/sep/26/mps-debate-and-vote-on-air-strikes-against-islamic-state-politics-live-blog|access-date=31 January 2015|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=26 September 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219200745/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/live/2014/sep/26/mps-debate-and-vote-on-air-strikes-against-islamic-state-politics-live-blog|archive-date=19 December 2014}}</ref>

=== Brexit ===
Fox supported Brexit at the [[2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum|EU Referendum 2016]], and is a self-proclaimed "staunch Eurosceptic".<ref name="Ross 2016">{{cite news |last=Ross |first=Tim |date=2016 |title=Liam Fox calls for Britain to leave EU and become "an independent sovereign nation" again |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/12117699/Liam-Fox-calls-for-Britain-to-leave-EU-and-become-an-independent-sovereign-nation-again.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401111522/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/eureferendum/12117699/Liam-Fox-calls-for-Britain-to-leave-EU-and-become-an-independent-sovereign-nation-again.html |archive-date=1 April 2018 |access-date=31 March 2018 |newspaper=Daily Telegraph |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> Following this assertion, he stated that he wants a "clean break"<ref name="Ross 2016" /> from [[Brussels]], in order to regain "national sovereignty".<ref name="Ross 2016" /> In July 2019 he acknowledged that no deal could lead to the breakup of the United Kingdom.<ref>{{cite web |date=1 July 2019 |title=Liam Fox: No-deal Brexit 'threatens' UK break up |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-48826500 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721233423/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-politics-48826500/liam-fox-no-deal-brexit-threatens-uk-break-up |archive-date=21 July 2019 |access-date=19 July 2019 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

In March 2018, Fox said that he would "no longer support" an extension to the EU transition period.<ref>{{cite news |title=UK trade minister Fox says would not support longer Brexit transition period |url=http://www.businessinsider.com/r-uk-trade-minister-fox-says-would-not-support-longer-brexit-transition-period-2018-3 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401075436/http://www.businessinsider.com/r-uk-trade-minister-fox-says-would-not-support-longer-brexit-transition-period-2018-3 |archive-date=1 April 2018 |access-date=31 March 2018 |work=Business Insider}}</ref> He had previously said that a post-Brexit trade deal "should be the easiest in human history".<ref>{{cite news |date=22 October 2017 |title=Liam Fox stands by claim that Brexit trade deal will be 'easiest in human history' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-latest-liam-fox-repeats-claim-trade-deal-european-union-trade-deal-easiest-human-history-a8013601.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401083908/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-latest-liam-fox-repeats-claim-trade-deal-european-union-trade-deal-easiest-human-history-a8013601.html |archive-date=1 April 2018 |access-date=31 March 2018 |work=The Independent}}</ref> By July 2019 he recognised that a deal with the US would "take time"<ref>{{cite news |last=Bosotti |first=Aurora |date=15 July 2019 |title=Liam Fox reveals shock reason US may halt trade deal with Brexit Britain – 'Need time' |url=https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1153481/Brexit-news-Liam-Fox-US-UK-trade-EU-withdrawal-Congress-Donald-Trump-election-latest |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190719004345/https://www.express.co.uk/news/uk/1153481/Brexit-news-Liam-Fox-US-UK-trade-EU-withdrawal-Congress-Donald-Trump-election-latest |archive-date=19 July 2019 |access-date=19 July 2019 |newspaper=Daily Express}}</ref> and that despite reaching "above 99% of agreement" on a deal based on Canada's existing deal with the EU, the Canadians were now looking at the zero-tariff access being promised in the event of no deal.<ref>{{cite web |date=3 July 2019 |title=Brexit: Liam Fox blames MPs over Canada deal delay |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48855288 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190728084500/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48855288 |archive-date=28 July 2019 |access-date=19 July 2019 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

On 30 November 2018, he came out in support for Theresa May's Brexit deal,<ref>{{cite news |title=Liam Fox says MPs 'may try to steal Brexit' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-politics-46452308/liam-fox-says-that-mps-may-try-to-steal-brexit |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181206120837/https://www.bbc.com/news/av/uk-politics-46452308/liam-fox-says-that-mps-may-try-to-steal-brexit |archive-date=6 December 2018 |access-date=5 December 2018 |work=BBC News}}</ref> calling it the best possible deal that safely delivers Brexit.<ref>{{cite web |last=Clark |first=Jessica |date=30 November 2018 |title=International trade secretary Liam Fox backs Theresa May's Brexit deal |url=http://www.cityam.com/269960/international-trade-secretary-liam-fox-backs-theresa-mays |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181203152137/http://www.cityam.com/269960/international-trade-secretary-liam-fox-backs-theresa-mays |archive-date=3 December 2018 |access-date=3 December 2018}}</ref>

=== Afghanistan ===
In July 2010, Fox said that an early withdrawal of coalition troops from Afghanistan would risk a return of civil war and act as a "shot in the arm to jihadists" across the world. In marked contrast to David Cameron, who pledged to withdraw all British troops by 2015, Fox said Britain would be betraying the sacrifices of its fallen soldiers if it left "before the job is finished". British forces would be among the last to leave Afghanistan, he added, because they are stationed in Helmand, one of the most dangerous provinces in the country. He said that "Were we to leave prematurely, without degrading the insurgency and increasing the capability of the Afghan national security forces, we could see the return of the destructive forces of transnational terror ... Not only would we risk the return of civil war in Afghanistan, creating a security vacuum, but we would also risk the destabilisation of Pakistan with potentially unthinkable regional, and possibly nuclear, consequences."<ref>{{cite news |first=Nicholas |last=Watt |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/jun/30/liam-fox-afghanistan-foreign-policy |title=Liam Fox insists army cannot leave Afghanistan until job done |work=The Guardian |date=30 June 2010 |access-date=14 November 2011 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130915011836/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/jun/30/liam-fox-afghanistan-foreign-policy |archive-date=15 September 2013 }}</ref>

[[File:Liam Fox with Air Marshal Stuart Peach.jpg|thumb|Liam Fox in Afghanistan with Air Marshal [[Stuart Peach]] in 2010]]

In July 2010, it was reported that 1,000 Royal Marines were expected to leave and be redeployed to central Helmand by the end of 2010. Fox told MPs that UK forces had made "good progress" in Sangin, but the move would enable Britain to provide "more manpower and greater focus" on Helmand's busy central belt, leaving the north and south to the US. "The result will be a coherent and equitable division of the main populated areas of Helmand between three brigade-sized forces, with the US in the north and the south, and the UK-led [[Task Force Helmand]], alongside our outstanding Danish and Estonian allies, in the central population belt," he told the House of Commons.<ref>{{cite news|first=Jonathan |last=Beale  |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10533771 |title=UK troops in Afghanistan to pull out of Sangin |work=BBC News |date=7 July 2010 |access-date=14 November 2011}}</ref>

On 19 July 2010, Fox said that within four years the Afghan army and police should take responsibility for security, leaving British troops to work only as military trainers. The date is a full year earlier than the deadline suggested by David Cameron this month, who said he wanted most troops back by 2015. Fox said: "It has always been our aim to be successful in the mission and the mission has always said that the Afghan national security forces would be able to deal with their own security by 2014. We recognise that there will be further work to do in terms of training and improving the quality of those forces beyond that, which is why we have said training forces may be available after that date. But we have made it very clear that that will not be combat forces."<ref>{{cite news|last=Farmer|first=Ben|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/7897196/Liam-Fox-troops-will-leave-Afghanistan-by-2014.html|title=Liam Fox: troops will leave Afghanistan by 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=19 July 2010|access-date=14 November 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110128180649/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/onthefrontline/7897196/Liam-Fox-troops-will-leave-Afghanistan-by-2014.html|archive-date=28 January 2011}}</ref>

===NATO===
[[File:liam afghan.JPG|thumb|Liam Fox meeting with General [[Stanley A. McChrystal|McChrystal]] in [[Kabul]], Afghanistan in July 2009]]
He has very strong [[Atlanticist]] views. He believes that [[NATO]] is the cornerstone of the United Kingdom and Europe's defence and that NATO must have primacy over the [[European Union]] including the right of first refusal for all matters relating to the defence of [[continental Europe]].<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite web|url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2010/02/Liam_Fox_EU_should_only_act_when_NATO_cannot.aspx |title=The EU should only act when NATO cannot |date=11 February 2010 |last=Fox |first=Dr. Liam |access-date=24 March 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100401061150/https://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2010/02/Liam_Fox_EU_should_only_act_when_NATO_cannot.aspx |archive-date= 1 April 2010 }}</ref> He has been critical of the common funding mechanism within NATO and has called for a system to be used that allows for more proportionate burden sharing between NATO member states for NATO led military operations.<ref>{{cite web| url= http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2009/12/Liam_Fox_NATO_members_must_help_fund_security_efforts_in_Afghanistan.aspx| title= NATO members must help fund security in Afghanistan| date= 8 December 2010| last= Fox| first= Dr. Liam| access-date= 24 March 2010| url-status= live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20110622051559/http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2009/12/Liam_Fox_NATO_members_must_help_fund_security_efforts_in_Afghanistan.aspx| archive-date= 22 June 2011 }}</ref>

===European Union===

He is considered to be staunchly [[Eurosceptic]] and opposed to European defence integration as well as European political integration. He is opposed to the [[European Commission]] having any role in defence policy. He believes that the [[European Security and Defence Policy]] duplicates and takes away scarce national resources from NATO.<ref name=autogenerated1/> 

===Abortion===
Fox is critical of abortion and has called for "huge restriction, if not abolition" on the UK's "pro-abortion laws".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/1134042.stm|work=BBC News|title=Tories in abortion row|date=24 January 2001|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040526085023/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/1134042.stm|archive-date=26 May 2004}}</ref> In an interview with ''[[Piers Morgan|Morgan]] and [[Amanda Platell|Platell]]'', Fox elaborated on these views, stating that he would "like to see [abortion limits] brought down...well below 20 weeks; I'd like to see us look at limits more akin to some of the European countries at 12 or 14 weeks."<ref name="http">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3323922/Fox-courts-religious-Right-with-plea-to-limit-abortion-to-12-weeks.html|location=London|work=The Daily Telegraph|first=Melissa|last=Kite|title=Fox courts religious Right with plea to limit abortion to 12 weeks|date=20 September 2005|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150518130848/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/3323922/Fox-courts-religious-Right-with-plea-to-limit-abortion-to-12-weeks.html|archive-date=18 May 2015}}</ref>

He went on to state that "a society that actually aborts 180,000 unborn children every year is a society that needs to be asking a lot of questions about itself. For me, it's a simple personal belief. It says, "thou shall not kill", it doesn't say, thou shall not kill unless Parliament says it's OK. For the same reason I'm against the death penalty. However, I do accept...that if the majority of the population decide that it's something they find acceptable, I've got to live with that. But I'm not going to be quiet and I'm not going to pretend that my views are other than they are for the sake of political convenience."<ref name="http"/>

===Military welfare===
Fox has stated on a number of occasions that the [[Military Covenant]] is broken and that the [[British Armed Forces]] are being asked to do too much for what they are resourced to do.<ref name=autogenerated2/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2007/10/Liam_Fox_We_need_a_Government_that_honours_our_Armed_Forces.aspx|date=2 October 2007|last=Fox|first=Dr Liam|title=We need a Government that honours our Armed Forces|access-date=24 March 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100414161313/http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2007/10/Liam_Fox_We_need_a_Government_that_honours_our_Armed_Forces.aspx|archive-date=14 April 2010}}</ref>

Along with the leader of the Conservative Party, David Cameron, he established the Military Covenant Commission headed by [[Frederick Forsyth]] with the aim of finding ways to improve the welfare of service members, veterans, and their families under a future Conservative Government. Fox has a particular interest in mental health issues and has criticised Gordon Brown's Labour Government for failing to adequately address the problem.<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2009/03/Liam_Fox_We_must_defuse_timebomb_of_veterans_mental_health.aspx| date=18 March 2009| last=Fox| first=Dr. Liam| title='We must defuse timebomb of veterans' mental health'| access-date=24 March 2010| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100415035734/http://www.conservatives.com/News/Speeches/2009/03/Liam_Fox_We_must_defuse_timebomb_of_veterans_mental_health.aspx| archive-date=15 April 2010 }}</ref>

===Israel===
Fox is a supporter of Israel, and is a member of [[Conservative Friends of Israel]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/31686/camerons-cabinet-who-are-they|title=Cameron's Cabinet: Who are they?|last=Elgot|first=Jessica|date=12 May 2010|work=[[The Jewish Chronicle]]|access-date=7 September 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100515150458/http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/31686/camerons-cabinet-who-are-they|archive-date=15 May 2010}}</ref> In 2006 he said, "Israel's enemies are our enemies and this is a battle in which we all stand together or we will all fall divided."<ref>{{cite web|last=Elgot|first=Jessica|title=Cameron's Cabinet: Who are they?|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/31686/camerons-cabinet-who-are-they|work=The Jewish Chronicle|access-date=23 October 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130109032958/http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/31686/camerons-cabinet-who-are-they|archive-date=9 January 2013}}</ref> ''[[The Jewish Chronicle]]'' called Fox a "champion of Israel" while he was in government.<ref name=jc-20131025>{{cite news |url=http://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-features/112658/interview-liam-fox-dealing-iran-syria-and-our-trivia-obsession |title=Interview: Liam Fox – Dealing with Iran, Syria and our trivia obsession |first=Marcus |last=Dysch |newspaper=[[The Jewish Chronicle]] |date=25 October 2013 |access-date=6 November 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304123844/http://www.thejc.com/lifestyle/lifestyle-features/112658/interview-liam-fox-dealing-iran-syria-and-our-trivia-obsession |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> In January 2009, referring to Israel, he said, "British support for any ally is never unqualified. International law and values must always be obeyed."<ref>{{cite news| url= https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/profiles/liam-fox-you-ask-the-questions-1225827.html| date= 5 January 2009|last=Fox|first=Dr. Liam| title= Liam Fox: You Ask The Questions |work=[[The Independent]] | access-date=24 March 2010 | location=London}}{{dead link|date=August 2021|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> In May 2011, Fox was booed at a [[Britain Israel Communications and Research Centre|We Believe in Israel]] event for saying that Israeli settlements "are illegal and an obstacle to peace".<ref>{{cite news|title=We believe in Israel: A new beginning|url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/49161/we-believe-israel-a-new-beginning|access-date=8 June 2011|newspaper=[[The Jewish Chronicle]]|date=19 May 2011|first=Jenni|last=Frazer|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110527112415/http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/49161/we-believe-israel-a-new-beginning|archive-date=27 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Cheers won't quell the fears|url=http://www.thejc.com/comment-and-debate/columnists/49135/cheers-wont-quell-fears|access-date=8 June 2011|newspaper=[[The Jewish Chronicle]]|date=19 May 2011|first=Jonathan|last=Freedland|author-link=Jonathan Freedland|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110727050956/http://thejc.com/comment-and-debate/columnists/49135/cheers-wont-quell-fears|archive-date=27 July 2011}}</ref>

===US–UK relations===
[[File:Liam Fox.jpg|thumb|Liam Fox with [[Rudy Giuliani]] and [[Margaret Thatcher]] in 2007]]
He is a strong believer in the [[Special Relationship]] between the United Kingdom and the United States.<ref>{{cite news|title=Wikileaks files show UK considered 'paranoid' by US|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11917398|access-date=12 October 2011|publisher=[[BBC]]|date=4 December 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120223152647/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-11917398|archive-date=23 February 2012}}</ref> He was the UK Director and founding member of [[The Atlantic Bridge]], a UK-based charity that aims to preserve and promote the Special Relationship.<ref name="Monbioy2017">{{cite news|last=Monbiot|first=George|author-link=George Monbiot|url=https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/02/corporate-dark-money-power-atlantic-lobbyists-brexit|title=How corporate dark money is taking power on both sides of the Atlantic|work=[[The Guardian]]|date=2 February 2017|access-date=24 July 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170723131849/https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/feb/02/corporate-dark-money-power-atlantic-lobbyists-brexit|archive-date=23 July 2017}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.theatlanticbridge.com|title=The Atlantic Bridge|access-date=3 September 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080915081224/http://www.theatlanticbridge.com/|archive-date=15 September 2008}}</ref> The Atlantic Bridge closed down in October 2011 after being told to cease activities by the [[Charity Commission]] for "promoting a political policy [that] is closely associated with the Conservative Party".<ref>{{cite news| title=Charity founded by Liam Fox closes after intervention by Charity Commission| url=https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity-founded-liam-fox-closes-intervention-charity-commission/governance/article/1097517| date=6 October 2011| access-date=9 October 2011| location=London| first1=Kate| last1=Wiggins| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171228232208/https://www.thirdsector.co.uk/charity-founded-liam-fox-closes-intervention-charity-commission/governance/article/1097517| archive-date=28 December 2017| url-status=live}}</ref>

Fox was able to retain a good relationship with the administration of [[George W. Bush]], despite a five-year breakdown in relations between the Conservative and Republican parties over the [[Iraq War]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Democratic Geopolitics|url=http://www.dissentmagazine.org/democratiya/article_pdfs/d6JacksonSociety.pdf|work=Dissent Magazine|access-date=15 November 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120403024516/http://www.dissentmagazine.org/democratiya/article_pdfs/d6JacksonSociety.pdf|archive-date=3 April 2012}}</ref> He led the Conservative delegation to the [[2008 Republican National Convention]].<ref>{{cite news | title=Convention fever: MPs fly in hoping to find prescription for success | url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4583484.ece | work=[[The Times]] | date=22 August 2008 | access-date=12 September 2008 | location=London | first1=Tom | last1=Baldwin | first2=Siobhan | last2=Kennedy | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120225926/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article4583484.ece | archive-date=20 January 2009 }}</ref> In 2018, he commented that the 25% tariffs imposed by the United States on imported EU steel were "patently absurd."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/business-44324565|title=Trade war looms on Trump's tariffs move|date=1 June 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=1 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180601062413/http://www.bbc.com/news/business-44324565|archive-date=1 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

Fox criticised protesters against [[Donald Trump]]'s visit to the UK in 2018, calling them a "embarrassment to themselves".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/av/uk-44832448|title=Liam Fox: 'Trump protesters an embarrassment to themselves'|date=14 June 2018|work=BBC News|access-date=16 November 2024}}</ref>

===Freedom of the press===
In October 2013, Fox called for ''[[The Guardian]]'' newspaper to face prosecution over the [[2013 mass surveillance disclosures]].<ref>{{cite news|first1=Rowena|last1=Mason|first2=Patrick|last2=Wintour|date=16 October 2013|title=MPs set to investigate Guardian's involvement in Snowden leaks|url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/16/mps-investigate-guardian-edward-snowden-leaks|newspaper=[[The Guardian]]|access-date=16 October 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131016185244/http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2013/oct/16/mps-investigate-guardian-edward-snowden-leaks|archive-date=16 October 2013}}</ref>

In January 2015, Fox published a video on YouTube detailing his opinions and criticism of [[Edward Snowden]]. He stated: "We're constantly having to protect our society from a range of threats, especially organised crime, paedophilia, and terrorism. For our intelligence services to operate effectively, and to protect us from these threats, they need to be able to do things in secret, secrets whose public disclosure would be damaging to our National Interest. When Edward Snowden stole files and took them with him to China and then Russia, some 58,000 files came from [[GCHQ]], information that had played a vital role in preventing terrorist outrages in Britain, over the past decade and longer. It was not freedom fighting. We should call treason by its name. And those who assisted Snowden must be held responsible for their actions."<ref name="treason-by-its-name">{{cite AV media | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zeneY5xfOE | title=Let's Call Treason By It's [sic] Real Name | publisher=YouTube, Liam Fox | date=28 January 2015 | people=Liam Fox | medium=Internet Video | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150216172817/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zeneY5xfOE | archive-date=16 February 2015}}</ref>

===National Health Service===
In January 2014, Fox stated that ring-fenced funding for the [[NHS]] should end, stating: "The increase [in spending] over the last decade has been phenomenal and yet a lot of our health indicators lag behind other countries, particular things like stroke outcome or a lot of cancer outcomes."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25574096 |title=Liam Fox calls for end to protection of NHS spending |work=BBC News |date=2 January 2014 |access-date=5 July 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161221034917/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-25574096 |archive-date=21 December 2016 }}</ref>

===Syria===
Fox was disappointed that Parliament [[Premiership of David Cameron#Syria|voted not to take military action]] over [[Ghouta chemical attack|the use of chemical weapons in Syria]].<ref name=jc-20131003>{{cite news |url=http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/112017/beware-simple-peace-solutions-warns-liam-fox |title=Beware simple peace solutions, warns Liam Fox |first=Rosa |last=Doherty |newspaper=The Jewish Chronicle |date=3 October 2013 |access-date=6 November 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304191939/http://www.thejc.com/news/uk-news/112017/beware-simple-peace-solutions-warns-liam-fox |archive-date=4 March 2016 }}</ref> Fox was critical of Cameron's strategy and performance for that debate, and stated "There was no need to seek parliamentary approval for any military action, as constitutional authority lies with the government."<ref name=ft-20140822/><ref name=bbc-20150904/> He later took the view that there were no easy answers to the [[Syrian civil war]] and the prospect of the [[Assad government]] surviving should be considered.<ref name=jc-20131025/> Fox argued that bombing attacks against [[ISIL]] in Iraq should be extended into Syria, and safe havens should be created in Syria by military intervention.<ref name=bbc-20150904>{{cite AV media |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p031l9kg |title=Liam Fox: Need to look at 'creation of a safe haven' in Syria |work=World at One |publisher=BBC |date=4 September 2015 |access-date=6 November 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171209114956/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p031l9kg |archive-date=9 December 2017 }}</ref><ref name=bbc-20140903>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29050150 |title=Liam Fox urges air strikes against Islamic State |first=James |last=Landale |publisher=BBC |date=3 September 2014 |access-date=6 November 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150624083647/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-29050150 |archive-date=24 June 2015 }}</ref>

=== Western Sahara ===
In January 2024, Fox publicly expressed his support for Morocco and its [[Western Sahara Autonomy Proposal]] in the [[Western Sahara conflict]], and called on the government to officially recognise [[Moroccan-occupied Western Sahara|Morocco's claim]] to the [[Western Sahara|territory]], as the United States had done in 2020 in exchange for the [[Israel–Morocco normalization agreement]].<ref>{{cite web |last=El Atti |first=Basma |date=8 January 2024 |title=Liam Fox: UK should recognise Morocco claims to W.Sahara |url=https://www.newarab.com/news/liam-fox-uk-should-recognise-morocco-claims-wsahara |access-date=9 January 2024 |website=[[The New Arab]] |place=Rabat }}</ref>

He also went further and made unsubstantiated claims on supposed alliances of the Polisario.<ref>{{cite web | title=The UK's endorsement of the Moroccan Autonomy Plan is a welcome step | url=https://www.thenationalnews.com/opinion/comment/2025/07/14/the-uks-endorsement-of-the-moroccan-autonomy-plan-is-a-welcome-step/ }}</ref>

===Expenses===
In March 2010, Fox appealed [[Sir Thomas Legg]]'s decision that he had overclaimed £22,476 in mortgage interest payments. Fox immediately<ref name="Siddique">{{cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/16/liam-fox-loses-appeal-over-25000-mps-expenses-payback|title='Liam Fox loses appeal over £22,500 MPs' expenses payback'|date=16 March 2010|access-date=23 March 2010|work=The Guardian|location=London|first=Haroon|last=Siddique|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151102180211/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/mar/16/liam-fox-loses-appeal-over-25000-mps-expenses-payback|archive-date=2 November 2015}}</ref> repaid the money, then appealed the decision. Fox's appeal was rejected and the decision was upheld by [[Paul Kennedy (English judge)|Sir Paul Kennedy]], a former high court judge.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23815555-final-mps-to-learn-fate-over-expenses-scandal.do|title=Senior Tory Liam Fox loses expenses appeal and must repay £20,000|date=16 March 2010|access-date=20 March 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100322211359/http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23815555-final-mps-to-learn-fate-over-expenses-scandal.do|archive-date=22 March 2010}}</ref> Fox stated that his decision to remortgage his second home to pay for redecorations and claim the higher interest repayments on his expenses represented value for money because he could have charged the taxpayer for the decorating bills directly. In his response, Sir Paul Kennedy stated: "What you claimed was not recoverable under the rules then in force. I entirely accept that, like many others, you could have made other claims if the fees office had rejected your claims for mortgage interest, and that you may well have spent some of what you raised by increasing your mortgage on your constituency home, but the evidence is imprecise, and my terms of reference only allow me to interfere if I find special reasons in your individual case showing that it would not be fair and equitable to require repayment, either at all or at the level recommended."<ref name="Siddique"/> This reportedly made him the Conservative Shadow Cabinet member with the largest over-claim on expenses, and as a result, he has been forced to repay the most money.<ref name="telegraph7450738">{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/7450738/MPs-expenses-Liam-Fox-becomes-highest-shadow-cabinet-repayer.html|title=MPs' expenses: Liam Fox becomes highest shadow cabinet repayer|date=17 March 2010|access-date=20 March 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph|location=London|first=Rosa|last=Prince|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110203083854/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/7450738/MPs-expenses-Liam-Fox-becomes-highest-shadow-cabinet-repayer.html|archive-date=3 February 2011}}</ref>

It was reported in June 2009 that Fox claimed expenses of more than £19,000 over the previous four years for his mobile phone. Fox stated that the high bill was due to regular trips overseas, in his capacity as Shadow Defence Secretary and said he was looking for a cheaper tariff.<ref>{{cite web|title=MP Dr Fox's huge phone bills|url=https://www.thewestonmercury.co.uk/news/mp-dr-fox-s-huge-phone-bills-1-331835|access-date=11 November 2020|website=Weston Mercury|date=22 June 2009}}</ref>

In October 2012, the Commons Speaker blocked the release of data showing which MPs were renting their homes to other MPs for financial gain. However, a study of parliamentary records was published in ''[[the Daily Telegraph]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/9619022/Expenses-scandal-27-MPs-let-one-home-and-claim-for-another.html |title=Expenses scandal: 27 MPs let one home and claim for another |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=30 June 2016 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305042226/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/mps-expenses/9619022/Expenses-scandal-27-MPs-let-one-home-and-claim-for-another.html |archive-date=5 March 2016 }}</ref> The study showed that Liam Fox receives rental income from his London home while simultaneously claiming rental income from the taxpayer to live at another residence.

In October 2013, documents showed that Fox claimed 3p for a 100 metre car trip a year earlier. He also made an additional 15 claims under £1 for car travel approved in 2012–13, two of which were for 24p and 44p. He told the ''[[Sunday People]]'': "I don't do my expenses. My office does them. But they are all done according to the rules for travel distances."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24420681|title=Liam Fox MP claims 3p for 100m car trip, documents show|date=6 October 2013|access-date=6 October 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131006152728/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-24420681|archive-date=6 October 2013}}</ref>

===Breaches of parliamentary rules===
In March 2010, Fox admitted breaking parliamentary rules on two occasions by visiting [[Sri Lanka]] on a trip paid for by the [[Sri Lankan government]] without declaring the trip in the Register of Members' Financial Interests in the required time of 30 days and failing to declare an interest in Sri Lanka when asking ministers how much UK aid had been given to Sri Lanka. Fox has declared all of his trips to Sri Lanka paid for by the Sri Lankan government in the [[Register of Members' Financial Interests]].<ref name="publications.parliament.uk">{{cite web| url= https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/100310/memi10.htm| title= 'The Register of Members' Financial Interests'| date= March 2010| access-date= 24 March 2010| url-status= live| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100327162551/http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmregmem/100310/memi10.htm| archive-date= 27 March 2010 }}</ref> One trip he took in November 2007 was declared two months late. Fox blamed a "changeover of staffing responsibilities" for this error.<ref name="MPs' foreign visit rules breached">BBC [https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/8580183.stm MPs' foreign visit rules breached] 22 March 2010</ref> Of the five trips to Sri Lanka mentioned in the BBC article, three were paid for fully by the Sri Lankan government. Those not paid in full by the Sri Lankan government were paid for by the Sri Lankan Development Trust.<ref name="publications.parliament.uk"/>

Fox stated that he had been working for 'all sides of the ethnic divide': "I have been involved in attempts to promote peace and reconciliation in Sri Lanka, involving all sides of the ethnic divide, since I was a foreign minister in 1997. During my most recent visit, I spoke at a press conference to outline my reasons for being there. The declaration of the visit you refer to in November 2007 was highlighted in an end-of-year audit following a changeover of staffing responsibilities. The registrar was immediately notified and my register entry was updated accordingly. All visits have been fully declared on the House of Commons Register of Members' Interests and are therefore public knowledge and entirely legitimate. I do, however, recognise that when asking one question in 2008, I should have noted an interest and will be writing to the registrar to make this clear".<ref>{{cite news|work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/8574625.stm |title=Liam Fox MP: Foreign trips and rule breaches|date=22 March 2010|access-date=12 May 2015}}</ref>

== Post-parliamentary career ==
Following his defeat at the 2024 general election, Fox was appointed as Chair of the UK Abraham Accords Group.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/year-general-election-former-mps-now|title=One Year After The General Election: Where Are Former MPs Now?|last=Crowther|first=Zoe|date=6 July 2025|work=[[Merit_Group#Subsidiaries|PoliticsHome]]|access-date=29 July 2025}}</ref>

==Personal life==
On 10 June 2005, he announced his [[engagement]] to longtime girlfriend Jesme Baird, a doctor who works at the [[Roy Castle Lung Cancer Foundation]]. They married at [[St Margaret's, Westminster|St Margaret's Church]] opposite Parliament on 17 December 2005.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4539286.stm|title=Liam Fox weds his long-time love|work=BBC News|date=18 December 2005|access-date=26 June 2008|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051221054608/http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4539286.stm|archive-date=21 December 2005}}</ref>

He previously dated [[Natalie Imbruglia]] and is credited in the liner notes of her 1997 album ''[[Left of the Middle]]''.<ref>LBC Interview: "Sir Liam Fox tells @IainDale that he helped convince Natalie Imbruglia to release 'Torn' as a single during their 'close friendship' in the 1990s." https://x.com/lbc/status/1816580956146569422</ref>

He has lived in [[North Somerset]] since 1990, and currently resides in [[Tickenham]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/liam-fox-mp-north-somerset-66836|title=Liam Fox – Conservative MP for North Somerset and Secretary of State for International Trade|last=Ashcroft|first=Esme|date=6 May 2017|work=Bristol Post|access-date=18 June 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180618152312/https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/liam-fox-mp-north-somerset-66836|archive-date=18 June 2018|url-status=live}}</ref>

In September 2013, Fox launched ''Rising Tides: Facing the Challenges of a New Era'', a 384-page book in which he warns that many of the world's institutions are ill-equipped to tackle the economic and security threats of the 21st century.<ref>{{cite web |title=Liam Fox: 'We should shape the world in our own image' |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10293101/Liam-Fox-We-should-shape-the-world-in-our-own-image.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920024347/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/conservative/10293101/Liam-Fox-We-should-shape-the-world-in-our-own-image.html |archive-date=20 September 2016 |access-date=30 June 2016 |newspaper=The Telegraph|date=8 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |last=Fox |first=Liam |title=Rising Tides: Facing the Challenges of a New Era |date=2013 |publisher=Quercus Publishing |isbn=978-1-78206-740-5}}</ref>

Fox is a member of the [[Royal College of General Practitioners]].<ref>{{cite news |date=26 January 2011 |title=Former GP Liam Fox comes to aid of pregnant passenger |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12283134 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110126045522/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-12283134 |archive-date=26 January 2011 |access-date=26 January 2011 |work=BBC News}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[G3 (company)]]

==Notes==
<small>a. {{note|aaa}} Clark was appointed by the Privy Council in error for four days before the mistake was rectified, the holder prior to Clark was [[Sajid Javid]].<ref>{{cite news|last1=May|first1=Callum|title=Minister Greg Clark was briefly given wrong job|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36869726|access-date=22 July 2016|work=BBC News|date=22 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160724033143/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36869726|archive-date=24 July 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tilbrook|first1=Richard|title=Business Transacted and Orders Approved at the Privy Council Held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 15th July 2016|url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/List-of-Business-15-July-2016.pdf|publisher=Privy Council Office|access-date=22 July 2016|date=15 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819114655/https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/List-of-Business-15-July-2016.pdf|archive-date=19 August 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Tilbrook|first1=Richard|title=Business Transacted and Orders Approved at the Privy Council Held by the Queen at Buckingham Palace on 19th July 2016|url=https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2016-07-19-List-of-business.pdf|publisher=Privy Council Office|access-date=22 July 2016|date=19 July 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160819191725/https://privycouncil.independent.gov.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/2016-07-19-List-of-business.pdf|archive-date=19 August 2016}}</ref></small>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
*[http://www.liamfox.co.uk/ Dr Liam Fox] official homepage
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080828180201/http://www.liamfoxmp.co.uk/ Dr Liam Fox MP] former constituency website – inactive
*[http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Fox_Liam.aspx Profile] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111019075533/http://www.conservatives.com/People/Members_of_Parliament/Fox_Liam.aspx |date=19 October 2011 }} at the Conservative Party
*{{UK MP links | parliament = liam-fox/223 | hansard = dr-liam-fox | hansardcurr = 3308 | guardian = 1798/liam-fox | publicwhip = Liam_Fox | theywork = liam_fox | record = Liam-Fox/Woodspring/191 | bbc = 25617.stm | journalisted = liam-fox }}
*[https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/politics/2177238.stm Profile: Liam Fox], ''[[BBC News]]'', 16 October 2002
*[https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3256191.stm Profile: Liam Fox], ''[[BBC News]]'', 10 November 2003
*{{C-SPAN|1000843}}

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{{s-par|uk}}
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{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[Woodspring (UK Parliament constituency)|Woodspring]]|years=[[1992 United Kingdom general election|1992]]–[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]}}
{{s-non|reason=Constituency abolished}}
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{{s-non|reason=New constituency}}
{{s-ttl|title=Member of Parliament<br />for [[North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|North Somerset]]|years=[[2010 United Kingdom general election|2010]]–[[2024 United Kingdom general election|2024]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Cabinet of William Hague|Shadow Constitutional Affairs Spokesperson]]|years=1998–1999}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Health]]|years=1999–2003}}
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{{s-bef|rows=2|before=[[Michael Ancram]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Foreign Secretary]]|years=2005}}
{{s-aft|after=[[William Hague]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Shadow Secretary of State for Defence]]|years=2005–2010}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Bob Ainsworth]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary of State for Defence]]|years=2010–2011}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Philip Hammond]]}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary of State for International Trade]]|years=2016–2019}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[President of the Board of Trade]]|years=2016–2019}}
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{{s-ppo}}
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Chairman of the Conservative Party]]|years=2003–2005|alongside=[[The Lord Saatchi]]}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Francis Maude]]}}
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{{2016 Conservative Party leadership election}}
{{2005 Conservative Party leadership election}}
{{Presidents of the Board of Trade}}
{{Secretary of State for Defence}}
{{Shadow Defence Secretaries}}
{{Shadow Foreign Secretaries}}
{{Cameron–Clegg Cabinet}}
{{First May Cabinet}}
{{Second May Cabinet}}
{{Conservative Party (UK)}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fox, Liam}}
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