View source for Secretary of State for Defence

{{Short description|Member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom}}
{{For|the Spanish minister|Secretary of State for Defence (Spain)}}
{{EngvarB|date=November 2023}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2023}}
{{Infobox official post
| post = [[United Kingdom]]<br> Secretary of State for Defence
| native_name = 
| insignia = Coat of arms of the United Kingdom (2022, lesser arms).svg
| insigniasize = 
| insigniacaption = [[Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom|Royal Arms]] of [[His Majesty's Government]]
| insigniaalt = 
| flag = Flag of the British Secretary of State for Defence.svg
| flagsize = 
| flagalt = 
| flagborder = 
| flagcaption = [[List of United Kingdom flags#Combined Forces|Flag of the Secretary of State for Defence]]
| image = File:John Healey Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped).jpg
| alt = 
| incumbent = [[John Healey]]
| incumbentsince = 5 July 2024
| department = [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]
| style = {{ubl|'''Defence Secretary''' (informal)|[[The Right Honourable]] (within the UK and Commonwealth)|[[His Excellency]] (diplomatic)}}
| type = [[Minister of the Crown]]
| status = [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|Secretary of State]]
| member_of = {{plainlist|
*[[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]]
*[[Privy Council of the United Kingdom|Privy Council]]
*[[National Security Council (United Kingdom)|National Security Council]]
*[[Defence Council of the United Kingdom|Defence Council]]
*[[Admiralty Board (United Kingdom)|Admiralty Board]]
*[[Army Board]]
*[[Air Force Board]]}}
| reports_to = [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|The Prime Minister]]
| residence = 
| seat = [[Westminster]]
| nominator = The Prime Minister
| appointer = [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|The Monarch]]
| appointer_qualified = (on the advice of the [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom|Prime Minister]])
| termlength = [[At His Majesty's pleasure]]
| constituting_instrument = [https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1964/15 Defence (Transfer of Functions) Act 1964] section 1(1)(a)
| precursor = {{ubl|[[Minister of Defence (United Kingdom)|Minister of Defence]]|[[Secretary of State for War]]|[[Secretary of State for Air]]|[[First Lord of the Admiralty]]}}
| formation = 1 April 1964
| first = [[Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft|Peter Thorneycroft]]
| salary = £159,038 per annum (2022)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23 |url=https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1124173/2022-12-07-Ministerial-Salaries-22-23-table.pdf |date=15 December 2022}}</ref><br />(including £86,584 [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MP]] salary)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pay and expenses for MPs |url=https://www.parliament.uk/about/mps-and-lords/members/pay-mps/ |access-date=15 December 2022 |website=parliament.uk}}</ref>
| website = {{URL|https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-defence}}
| deputy = [[Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry]]
}}
{{PoliticsUK}}
The '''secretary of state for defence''', also known as the '''defence secretary''', is a [[Secretary of State (United Kingdom)|secretary of state]] in the [[Government of the United Kingdom]], with responsibility for the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref>{{cite web|title=Secretary of State for Defence|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-defence|access-date=30 June 2021|website=[[gov.uk]]|language=}}</ref> As a senior minister, the incumbent is a member of the [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom]].

The post of secretary of state for defence was created on 1 April 1964, replacing the positions of [[Minister of Defence (United Kingdom)|minister of defence]], [[First Lord of the Admiralty|first lord of the admiralty]], [[Secretary of State for War|secretary of state for war]], and [[Secretary of State for Air|secretary of state for air]], while the individual offices of the [[British Armed Forces]] were abolished and their functions transferred to the Ministry of Defence. In 2019, [[Penny Mordaunt]] became the UK's first female defence secretary.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41930719 |title=Penny Mordaunt - the UK's first female defence secretary |work=BBC News |date=2 May 2019 |access-date=10 June 2021 |quote=Penny Mordaunt has become the UK's first female defence secretary after Gavin Williamson was sacked.}}</ref>

The secretary of state is supported by the other ministers in the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)#Ministerial team|Defence Ministerial Team]] and the [[Permanent Under-Secretary of State for Defence|MOD permanent secretary]]. The corresponding [[shadow minister]] is the [[Shadow Secretary of State for Defence|shadow secretary of state for defence]], and the secretary of state is also scrutinised by the [[Defence Select Committee]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://committees.parliament.uk/committee/24/defence-committee/news/156002/secretary-of-state-for-defence-ben-wallace-faces-questioning-from-defence-committee/ |title=Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace, faces questioning from Defence Committee |work=parliament.uk |date=18 June 2021 |access-date=29 December 2021 |quote=}}</ref>

The current secretary of state for defence is [[John Healey]], who was appointed on 5 July 2024 following the [[2024 United Kingdom general election]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ministerial Appointments: July 2024 |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/ministerial-appointments-july-2024 |access-date=2024-07-05 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

==Responsibilities==
In contrast to what is generally known as a [[defence minister]] in many other countries, the Defence Secretary's remit includes:
*Strategic military and defensive operations. The postholder is a member of the [[National Security Council (United Kingdom)|National Security Council]], and chair of the [[Defence Council of the United Kingdom|Defence Council]], to which the monarch has given the power to command the Armed Forces.
*Oversight of [[Defence Intelligence]] 
*Relations with international partnerships, including [[NATO]]
*Defence policy ([[Trident (UK nuclear programme)|Trident nuclear weapons programme]]), resourcing and planning
*Communications on defence<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/ministers/secretary-of-state-for-defence|title=Secretary of State for Defence - GOV.UK|website=www.gov.uk}}</ref>

==History==

{{Principal political leaders of the British Armed Forces}}

===Minister for Co-ordination of Defence (1936–1940)===
{{main|Minister for Co-ordination of Defence}}
The position of [[Minister for Co-ordination of Defence|minister for co-ordination of defence]] was a [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|British Cabinet]]-level position established in 1936 to oversee and co-ordinate the rearmament of Britain's defences. It was established by the prime minister, [[Stanley Baldwin]], in response to criticism that Britain's armed forces were understrength compared to those of [[Nazi Germany]]. When the [[Second World War]] broke out, the new prime minister [[Neville Chamberlain]] formed a small [[War Cabinet]] and it was expected that the minister would serve as a spokesperson for the three service ministers, the [[Secretary of State for War|secretary of state for war]], the [[First Lord of the Admiralty|first lord of the admiralty]] and the [[Secretary of State for Air|secretary of state for air]]; however, political considerations resulted in all three posts being included in the Cabinet, and this role proved increasingly redundant. In April 1940 the position was formally wound up and the functions transferred to other ministers.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="3" |Minister
! colspan="2" |Term of office
!Party
!Ministry
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Thomas_Inskip.jpg|110px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Thomas Inskip, 1st Viscount Caldecote|'''Thomas Inskip''']]<BR>{{small|MP for [[Fareham (UK Parliament constituency)|Fareham]]<BR>(1876–1947)}}
| rowspan="2" |13 March 1936
| rowspan="2" |29 January 1939
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |[[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |[[National Government (1935–1937)|Baldwin III]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |[[National Government (1937–1939)|Chamberlain I]]
|- style="height:1em"
| rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{Party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Echatfield.jpg|110px]]
| rowspan="2" |[[Ernle Chatfield, 1st Baron Chatfield|'''Ernle Chatfield'''<BR><small>1st Baron Chatfield</small>]]<BR>{{Small|(1873–1967)}}
| rowspan="2" |29 January 1939
| rowspan="2" |3 April 1940
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |[[National Government (United Kingdom)|Independent<br />(National)]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |[[Chamberlain war ministry|Chamberlain War]]
|}

===Minister of Defence (1940–1964)===
{{main|Ministry of Defence (1947–1964)|Minister of Defence (United Kingdom)}}

The post of [[Ministry of Defence (1947–1964)|minister of defence]] was responsible for co-ordination of defence and security from its creation in 1940 until its abolition in 1964. The post was a [[Cabinet of the United Kingdom|Cabinet]] level post and generally ranked above the three service ministers, some of whom, however, continued to also serve in Cabinet.

On his appointment as prime minister in May 1940, [[Winston Churchill]] created for himself the new post of minister of defence. The post was created in response to previous criticism that there had been no clear single minister in charge of the prosecution of [[World War II]]. In 1946, the post became the only cabinet-level post representing the military, with the three service ministers – the [[Secretary of State for War|secretary of state for war]], the [[First Lord of the Admiralty|first lord of the admiralty]], and the [[Secretary of State for Air|secretary of state for air]], now formally subordinated to the minister of defence.
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
! colspan="2" rowspan="2" |Portrait
! rowspan="2" |Name <br/>{{Small|(birth–death)}}
! colspan="2" |Term of office
! rowspan="2" style="width:10px" |Tenure
! rowspan="2" |Political party
! rowspan="2" |Ministry
|-
!Took office
!Left office
|-
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Churchill1944.png|110px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Winston Churchill]]'''<BR>{{Small|MP for [[Epping (UK Parliament constituency)|Epping]]<BR>(1874–1965)}}
| rowspan="2" |10 May 1940
| rowspan="2" |27 July 1945
| rowspan="2" |<small>{{ayd|1940|05|10|1945|07|27}}</small>
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |[[Churchill war ministry|Churchill War]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} |[[Churchill caretaker ministry|Churchill Caretaker]]
|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Attlee_BW_cropped.jpg|110px]]
| '''[[Clement Attlee]]'''<BR>{{Small|MP for [[Limehouse (UK Parliament constituency)|Limehouse]]<BR>(1883–1967)}}
| 27 July 1945
| 20 December 1946
| <small>{{ayd|1945|07|27|1946|12|20}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |[[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |[[Attlee ministry|Attlee I]]
|-
| style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Co-operative}}" |
| [[File:INF3-62_A_V_Alexander_Artist's_signature_E_A_B.jpg|110px]]
| '''[[A. V. Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Hillsborough|A. V. Alexander]]'''<BR><small>MP for [[Sheffield Hillsborough (UK Parliament constituency)|Sheffield Hillsborough]]<BR>(1885–1965)</small>
| 20 December 1946
| 28 February 1950
| <small>{{ayd|1946|12|20|1950|02|28}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} |[[Labour and Co-operative|Labour Co-op]]
|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Emanuel_Shinwel_HU_059765_(crop).jpg|110px]]
| '''[[Manny Shinwell|Emanuel Shinwell]]'''<BR><small>MP for [[Easington (UK Parliament constituency)|Easington]]<BR>(1884–1986)</small>
| 28 February 1950
| 26 October 1951
| <small>{{ayd|1950|02|28|1951|10|26}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | [[Attlee ministry|Attlee II]]
|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Churchill_portrait_NYP_45063.jpg|110px]]
| '''[[Winston Churchill]]'''<BR><small>MP for [[Woodford (UK Parliament constituency)|Woodford]]<BR>(1874–1965)</small>
| 28 October 1951
| 1 March 1952
| <small>{{ayd|1951|10|26|1952|03|01}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |[[Third Churchill ministry|Churchill III]]
|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Independent (politician)}}" |
| [[File:Sir_Harold_Alexander_026065.jpg|157x157px]]
| <small>[[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|'''Harold Alexander'''<br>1st Earl Alexander of Tunis]]<BR>(1891–1969)</small>
| 1 March 1952
| 18 October 1954
| <small>{{ayd|1952|03|01|1954|10|18}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Independent (politician)}} | Independent
|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:Harold_Macmillan_in_1942.jpg|135x135px]]
| '''[[Harold Macmillan]]'''<BR><small>MP for [[Bromley (UK Parliament constituency)|Bromley]]<BR>(1894–1986)</small>
| 18 October 1954
| 7 April 1955
| <small>{{ayd|1954|10|18|1955|04|07}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| [[File:SelwynLloyd1960.jpg|147x147px]]
| '''[[Selwyn Lloyd]]'''<BR><small>MP for [[Wirral (UK Parliament constituency)|The Wirral]]<BR>(1904–1978)</small>
| 7 April 1955
| 20 December 1955
| <small>{{ayd|1955|04|07|1955|12|20}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |[[Eden ministry|Eden]]
|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|[[File:Sir_Walter_Monckton,_January_1942_IWM_A_6697_(cropped).jpg|127x127px]]
|'''[[Walter Monckton, 1st Viscount Monckton of Brenchley|Walter Monckton]]'''<BR><small>MP for [[Bristol West (UK Parliament constituency)|Bristol West]]<BR>(1891–1965)</small>
|20 December 1955
|18 October 1956
|<small>{{ayd|1955|12|20|1956|10|18}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|[[File:Blank.png|60x60px]]
|'''[[Antony Head, 1st Viscount Head|Antony Head]]'''<BR><small>MP for [[Carshalton (UK Parliament constituency)|Carshalton]]<BR>(1906–1983)</small>
|18 October 1956
|9 January 1957
|<small>{{ayd|1956|10|18|1957|01|09}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|[[File:Sandys_1944_cropped.jpg|135x135px]]
|'''[[Duncan Sandys]]'''<BR><small>MP for [[Streatham (UK Parliament constituency)|Streatham]]<BR>(1906–1987)</small>
|13 January 1957
|14 October 1959
|<small>{{ayd|1957|01|13|1959|10|14}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |[[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Macmillan I]]
|-
! style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
|[[File:Blank.png|60x60px]]
|'''[[Harold Watkinson]]'''<BR><small>MP for [[Woking (UK Parliament constituency)|Woking]]<BR>(1910–1995)</small>
|14 October 1959
|[[Night of the Long Knives (1962)|13 July 1962]]
|<small>{{ayd|1959|10|14|1962|07|13}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |[[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Macmillan II]]
|- 
! rowspan="2" style="background-color:{{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan="2" |[[File:Peter_Thorneycroft_cropped.png|138x138px]]
| rowspan="2" |'''[[Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft|Peter Thorneycroft]]'''<br><small>MP for [[Monmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Monmouth]]<BR>(1909–1994)</small>
| rowspan="2" |[[Night of the Long Knives (1962)|13 July 1962]]
| rowspan="2" |1 April 1964
| rowspan="2" |<small>{{ayd|1962|07|13|1964|04|01}}</small>
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} |[[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Douglas-Home]]
|}

=== Secretary of State for Defence (1964–present) ===
The post was created in 1964 as successor to the posts of minister for coordination of defence and minister of defence. It replaced the positions of [[First Lord of the Admiralty|first lord of the admiralty]], [[Secretary of State for War|secretary of state for war]] and [[Secretary of State for Air|secretary of state for air]], as the [[British Admiralty|Admiralty]], [[War Office]] and [[Air Ministry]] were merged into the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (the secretary of state for war had already ceased to be a cabinet position in 1946, with the creation of the cabinet-level [[Minister of Defence (United Kingdom)|minister of defence]]).

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+Secretary of State for Defence
! colspan=2 | Portrait
! Name<br/>{{Small|(birth–death)}}
! colspan=2 | Term of office
! style="width:10px" | Tenure
! Party
! Ministry

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Peter Thorneycroft cropped.png|110px]]
| '''[[Peter Thorneycroft, Baron Thorneycroft|Peter Thorneycroft]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Monmouth (UK Parliament constituency)|Monmouth]]<br/>(1909–1994)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-peter-thorneycroft/index.html |title=Mr Peter Thorneycroft |website=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]] |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
| 1 April 1964
| 16 October 1964
| <small>{{Age in years and days|1 April 1964|16 October 1964}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative government, 1957–1964|Douglas-Home]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Denis Healey.jpg|110px]]
| '''[[Denis Healey]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Leeds East (UK Parliament constituency)|Leeds East]]<br/>(1917–2015)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-healey/979 |title=Lord Healey |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
| 16 October 1964
| 19 June 1970
| <small>{{Age in years and days|16 October 1964|19 June 1970}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour government, 1964–1970|Wilson<br/>{{Small|(I & II)}}]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Peter Carington 1984.jpg|110px]]
| [[Peter Carington, 6th Baron Carrington|'''Peter Carington'''<br/>{{Small|6th '''Baron Carrington'''}}]]<br/>{{Small|(1919–2018)}}
| 20 June 1970
| 8 January 1974
| <small>{{Age in years and days|20 June 1970|8 January 1974}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Heath ministry|Heath]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| 
| '''[[Ian Gilmour, Baron Gilmour of Craigmillar|Ian Gilmour]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Central Norfolk (UK Parliament constituency)|Central Norfolk]]<br/>(1926–2007)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Lords/member/2606 |title=Lord Gilmour of Craigmillar |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
| 8 January 1974
| 4 March 1974
| <small>{{Age in years and days|8 January 1974|4 March 1974}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | 
| 
| '''[[Roy Mason]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Barnsley (UK Parliament constituency)|Barnsley]]<br/>(1924–2015)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/lords/lord-mason-of-barnsley/1062 |title=Lord Mason of Barnsley |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
| 5 March 1974
| 9 September 1976
| <small>{{Age in years and days|5 March 1974|9 September 1976}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour government, 1974–1979|Wilson<br/>{{Small|(III & IV)}}]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Fred Mulley.PNG|110px]]
| '''[[Fred Mulley]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Sheffield Park (UK Parliament constituency)|Sheffield Park]]<br/>(1918–1995)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Lords/member/2977 |title=Lord Mulley |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
| 10 September 1976
| 4 May 1979
| <small>{{Age in years and days|10 September 1976|4 May 1979}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour government, 1974–1979|Callaghan]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Francis Leslie Pym.jpg|110px]]
| '''[[Francis Pym, Baron Pym|Francis Pym]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Cambridgeshire (UK Parliament constituency)|Cambridgeshire]]<br/>(1922–2008)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Lords/member/3257 |title=Lord Pym |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
| 5 May 1979
| 4 January 1981
| <small>{{Age in years and days|5 May 1979|4 January 1981}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[First Thatcher ministry|Thatcher I]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:John Nott 02 (cropped).jpg|110px]]
| '''[[John Nott]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[St Ives (UK Parliament constituency)|St Ives]]<br/>(1932–2024)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/926 |title=Rt Hon Sir John Nott |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
| 5 January 1981
| 5 January 1983
| <small>{{Age in years and days|5 January 1981|5 January 1983}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Lord Heseltine (6969083278).jpg|110px]]
| '''[[Michael Heseltine]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Henley (UK Parliament constituency)|Henley]]<br/>(born 1933)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/94/career |title=Lord Heseltine |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref>
| 6 January 1983
| 8 January 1986
| <small>{{Age in years and days|6 January 1983|8 January 1986}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Thatcher ministry|Thatcher II]]

|-
| rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| rowspan=2 | [[File:George Younger.JPEG|110px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[George Younger, 4th Viscount Younger of Leckie|George Younger]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Ayr (UK Parliament constituency)|Ayr]]<br/>(1931–2003)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/969 |title=Rt Hon Sir George Younger |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |author=George Jones |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1420172/Thatchers-ally-George-Younger-dies-at-71.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220112/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/1420172/Thatchers-ally-George-Younger-dies-at-71.html |archive-date=12 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |title=Thatcher's ally George Younger dies at 71 |date=27 January 2003 |publisher=The Telegraph |access-date=3 November 2017 }}{{Cbignore}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | 9 January 1986
| rowspan=2 | 23 July 1989
| rowspan=2 | <small>{{Age in years and days|9 January 1986|23 July 1989}}</small>
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Third Thatcher ministry|Thatcher III]]

|-
! rowspan=2 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Official portrait of Lord King of Bridgwater crop 2.jpg|110px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater|Tom King]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Bridgwater (UK Parliament constituency)|Bridgwater]]<br/>(born 1933)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/254/career |title=Lord King of Bridgwater |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | 28 July 1989
| rowspan=2 | 9 April 1992
| rowspan=2 | <small>{{Age in years and days|28 July 1989|9 April 1992}}</small>
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[First Major ministry|Major I]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Malcolm Rifkind 2011 (cropped).jpg|110px]]
| '''[[Malcolm Rifkind]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Edinburgh Pentlands (UK Parliament constituency)|Edinburgh Pentlands]]<br/>(born 1946)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/Sir-Malcolm-Rifkind/1191 |title=Rt Hon Sir Malcolm Rifkind QC |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
| 10 April 1992
| 4 July 1995
| <small>{{Age in years and days|10 April 1992|4 July 1995}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Major ministry|Major II]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Michael_Portillo_(cropped).jpg|132x132px]]
| '''[[Michael Portillo]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Enfield Southgate (UK Parliament constituency)|Enfield Southgate]]<br/>(born 1953)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/187 |title=Rt Hon Michael Portillo |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
| 5 July 1995
| [[Portillo moment|2 May 1997]]
| <small>{{Age in years and days|5 July 1995|2 May 1997}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:George Robertson 2001 (3x4 crop).jpg|146x146px]]
| '''[[George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen|George Robertson]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Hamilton South (UK Parliament constituency)|Hamilton South]]<br/>(born 1946)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/672/career |title=Lord Robertson of Port Ellen |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref>
| 3 May 1997
| 11 October 1999
| <small>{{Age in years and days|3 May 1997|11 October 1999}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[First Blair ministry|Blair I]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}; border-bottom:solid 1px {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" height=37 |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Geoff Hoon Headshot.jpg|110px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Geoff Hoon]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Ashfield (UK Parliament constituency)|Ashfield]]<br/>(born 1953)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/Commons/member/357 |title=Mr Geoffrey Hoon |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | 11 October 1999
| rowspan=2 | 6 May 2005
| rowspan=2 | <small>{{Age in years and days|11 October 1999|6 May 2005}}</small>
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Second Blair ministry|Blair II]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:ReidTaormina_crop.jpg|frameless|148x148px]]
| '''[[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Airdrie and Shotts (UK Parliament constituency)|Airdrie and Shotts]]<br/>(born 1947)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/617/career |title=Lord Reid of Cardowan |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref>
| 6 May 2005
| [[2006 British cabinet reshuffle|5 May 2006]]
| <small>{{Age in years and days|6 May 2005|5 May 2006}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Third Blair ministry|Blair III]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}; border-bottom:solid 1px {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" height=37 |
| rowspan=2 | [[File:Browne and gates (cropped).jpg|146x146px]]
| rowspan=2 | '''[[Des Browne]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Kilmarnock and Loudoun (UK Parliament constituency)|Kilmarnock and Loudoun]]<br/>(born 1952)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/620/career |title=Lord Browne of Ladyton |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref>
| rowspan=2 | [[2006 British cabinet reshuffle|5 May 2006]]
| rowspan=2 | 3 October 2008
| rowspan=2 | <small>{{Age in years and days|5 May 2006|3 October 2008}}</small>
| rowspan=2 {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
|-
! style="background-color: {{party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" |
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Brown ministry|Brown]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Msc 2009-Sunday, 11.00 - 12.30 Uhr-Zwez 005 Hutton detail.jpg|110px]]
| '''[[John Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness|John Hutton]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Barrow and Furness (UK Parliament constituency)|Barrow and Furness]]<br/>(born 1955)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/494/career |title=Lord Hutton of Furness |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref>
| 3 October 2008
| 5 June 2009
| <small>{{Age in years and days|3 October 2008|5 June 2009}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:The Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth MP (4799292710).jpg|110px]]
| '''[[Bob Ainsworth]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Coventry North East (UK Parliament constituency)|Coventry North East]]<br/>(born 1952)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/306/career |title=Rt Hon Bob Ainsworth |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref>
| 5 June 2009
| 11 May 2010
| <small>{{Age in years and days|5 June 2009|11 May 2010}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Liam Fox MP (cropped).jpg|146x146px]]
| '''[[Liam Fox]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[North Somerset (UK Parliament constituency)|North Somerset]]<br/>(born 1961)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/223/career |title=Rt Hon Dr Liam Fox MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2010/may/13/coalition-cabinet-list-profiles |title=Who's who in the coalition cabinet |work=The Guardian |date=13 May 2010 |access-date=3 November 2017 }}</ref>
| 12 May 2010
| 14 October 2011
| <small>{{Age in years and days|11 May 2010|14 October 2011}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| rowspan=3 {{Party shading/Coalition (UK)}} | [[Cameron–Clegg coalition|Cameron–Clegg]]<br/>{{Small|(''[[Conservative Party (UK)|Con.]]–[[Liberal Democrats (UK)|L.D.]]'')}}

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Meeting at the Pentagon 130502-M-EV637-528 (cropped).jpg|146x146px]]
| style="white-space: nowrap" | '''[[Philip Hammond]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Runnymede and Weybridge (UK Parliament constituency)|Runnymede and Weybridge]]<br/>(born 1955)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/105/career |title=Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-15300751 |title=Liam Fox quits as defence secretary |date=14 October 2011 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=3 November 2017 }}</ref>
| 14 October 2011
| [[2014 British cabinet reshuffle|15 July 2014]]
| <small>{{Age in years and days|14 October 2011|15 July 2014}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
! rowspan=4 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| rowspan=4 | [[File:Michael Fallon February 2015.jpg|110px]]
| rowspan=4 | '''[[Michael Fallon]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Sevenoaks (UK Parliament constituency)|Sevenoaks]]<br/>(born 1952)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.parliament.uk/biographies/commons/sir-michael-fallon/88 |title=Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-28303854 |title=Reshuffle at-a-glance: In, out and moved about |date=15 July 2014 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=3 November 2017 }}</ref>
| rowspan=4 | [[2014 British cabinet reshuffle|15 July 2014]]
| rowspan=4 | [[Second May ministry#Changes|1 November 2017]]
| rowspan=4 | <small>{{Age in years and days|15 July 2014|1 November 2017}}</small>
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Cameron ministry|Cameron II]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[First May ministry|May I]]
|-
| rowspan="3" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second May ministry|May II]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP crop 2.jpg|110px]]
| '''[[Gavin Williamson]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[South Staffordshire (UK Parliament constituency)|South Staffordshire]]<br/>(born 1976)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4108/career |title=Rt Hon Gavin Williamson MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 November 2017}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-41844320 |title=Gavin Williamson replaces Michael Fallon as defence secretary |date=2 November 2017 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=2 November 2017 }}</ref>
| [[Second May ministry#Changes|2 November 2017]]
| [[Second May ministry#Changes 2|1 May 2019]]
| <small>{{Age in years and days|2 November 2017|1 May 2019}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
! style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| [[File:Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt.jpg|110px]]
| '''[[Penny Mordaunt]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Portsmouth North (UK Parliament constituency)|Portsmouth North]]<br/>(born 1973)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/4017/career |title=Rt Hon Penny Mordaunt MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-48126974|title=Gavin Williamson sacked over Huawei leak|date=2019-05-01|access-date=2019-05-02|language=en-GB}}</ref>
| [[Second May ministry#Changes 2|1 May 2019]]
| 24 July 2019
| <small>{{Age in years and days|1 May 2019|24 July 2019}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
! rowspan=4 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| rowspan=4 | [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP crop 2.jpg|110px]]
| rowspan=4 | '''[[Ben Wallace (politician)|Ben Wallace]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Wyre and Preston North (UK Parliament constituency)|Wyre and Preston North]]<br/>(born 1970)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1539/career |title=Rt Hon Ben Wallace MP |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=25 July 2021}}</ref><ref name="Wallace">{{Cite news|url=https://www.forces.net/news/politics/breaking-penny-mordaunt-leaves-role-defence-secretary|title=Ben Wallace Named New Defence Secretary|website=Forces Network|date=24 July 2019|access-date=24 July 2019}}</ref>
| rowspan=4 | 24 July 2019
| rowspan=4 | 31 August 2023
| rowspan=4 |<small>{{Age in years and days|24 July 2019|31 August 2023}}</small>
| rowspan=4 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[First Johnson ministry|Johnson I]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Second Johnson ministry|Johnson II]]
|-
| {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Truss ministry|Truss]]
|-
| rowspan="2" {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Sunak ministry|Sunak]]
|-
! rowspan=1 style="background-color: {{Party color|Conservative Party (UK)}}" | 
| rowspan=1 | [[File:Official portrait of Rt Hon Grant Shapps MP crop 2.jpg|110px]]
| rowspan=1 | '''[[Grant Shapps]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Welwyn Hatfield (UK Parliament constituency)|Welwyn Hatfield]]<br/>(born 1968)}}<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://members.parliament.uk/member/1582/career |title=Grant Shapps |publisher=UK Parliament |access-date=2 September 2023}}</ref>
| rowspan=1 | 31 August 2023
| rowspan=1 | 5 July 2024
| rowspan=1 | <small>{{Age in years and days|31 August 2023|5 July 2024}}</small>
| rowspan=1 {{Party shading/Conservative (UK)}} | [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative]]

|-
! rowspan=1 style="background-color: {{Party color|Labour Party (UK)}}" | 
| rowspan=1 | [[File:John Healey Official Cabinet Portrait, July 2024 (cropped) 2.jpg|146x146px]]
| rowspan=1 | '''[[John Healey]]'''<br/>{{Small|MP for [[Rawmarsh and Conisbrough (UK Parliament constituency)|Rawmarsh and Conisbrough]]<br/>(born 1960)}}
| rowspan=1 | 5 July 2024
| rowspan=1 | ''Incumbent''
| rowspan=1 | <small>{{Age in years and days|5 July 2024|}}</small>
| {{Party shading/Labour}} | [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour]]
| {{Party shading/Labour Party (UK)}} | [[Starmer ministry|Starmer]]
|}

== Timeline ==
{{#tag:timeline
|ImageSize = width:1100 height:auto barincrement:13
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal
AlignBars  = late
PlotArea   = width:85% left:10 top:10 bottom:50
Legend     = columns:1 left:120 top:20 columnwidth:175

Define $today = {{#time:d/m/Y}}

DateFormat = dd/mm/yyyy
Period     = from:01/01/1935 till:31/12/{{#time:Y|+1 year}}
TimeAxis   = orientation:horizontal

Colors     =
  id:conservative   value:rgb(0,0.53,0.86)      legend: Conservative_and_Unionist_Party
  id:labour         value:rgb(0.86,0.08,0.18)   legend: Labour_Party
  id:independent    value:rgb(0.6,0.6,0.6)      legend: Independent_or_no_party
  id:liteline       value:rgb(0.9,0.9,0.9)
  id:line           value:rgb(0.8,0.8,0.8)

ScaleMajor = gridcolor:line     unit:year increment:10 start:1940
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:liteline unit:year increment:2  start:1936

TextData =
  pos:(20,25) textcolor:black fontsize:M
  text:"Political parties:"

BarData = 
 bar:Inskip 
 bar:Chatfield
 bar:Churchill 
 bar:Attlee
 bar:Alexander
 bar:Shinwell
 bar:Tunis 
 bar:Macmillan
 bar:LLoyd
 bar:Monckton
 bar:Head
 bar:Sandys
 bar:Watkinson
 bar:Thorneycroft
 bar:Healey
 bar:Carrington
 bar:Gilmour
 bar:Mason
 bar:Mulley 
 bar:Pym
 bar:Nott
 bar:Heseltine
 bar:Younger
 bar:King
 bar:Rifkind
 bar:Portillo 
 bar:Robertson
 bar:Hoon 
 bar:Reid
 bar:Browne
 bar:Hutton 
 bar:Ainsworth
 bar:Fox
 bar:Hammond
 bar:Fallon
 bar:Williamson
 bar:Mordaunt
 bar:Wallace
 bar:Shapps
 bar:Healey2

PlotData=
  width:5 align:left fontsize:S shift:(5,-4) anchor:till
 
 bar:Inskip 
  from: 13/03/1936 till: 29/01/1939 color:Conservative text:"[[Thomas Inskip]]"
 bar:Chatfield
  from: 29/01/1939 till: 03/04/1940 color:Independent  text:"[[Ernle Chatfield]]"
 bar:Churchill 
  from: 10/05/1940 till: 27/07/1945 color:Conservative 
  from: 29/10/1951 till: 01/03/1952 color:Conservative text:"[[Winston Churchill]]"
 bar:Attlee
  from: 27/07/1945 till: 20/12/1946 color:Labour       text:"[[Clement Attlee]]"
 bar:Alexander
  from: 20/12/1946 till: 28/02/1950 color:Labour       text:"[[A. V. Alexander]]"
 bar:Shinwell
  from: 28/02/1950 till: 26/10/1951 color:Labour       text:"[[Emanuel Shinwell]]"
 bar:Tunis 
  from: 01/03/1952 till: 18/10/1954 color:Independent  text:"[[Harold Alexander]]"
 bar:Macmillan
  from: 18/10/1954 till: 07/04/1955 color:Conservative text:"[[Harold Macmillan]]"
 bar:LLoyd
  from: 07/04/1955 till: 20/12/1955 color:Conservative text:"[[Selwyn Lloyd]]"
 bar:Monckton
  from: 20/12/1955 till: 18/10/1956 color:Conservative text:"[[Walter Monckton]]"
 bar:Head
  from: 18/10/1956 till: 09/01/1957 color:Conservative text:"[[Antony Head]]"
 bar:Sandys
  from: 13/01/1957 till: 14/10/1959 color:Conservative text:"[[Duncan Sandys]]"
 bar:Watkinson
  from: 14/10/1959 till: 13/07/1962 color:Conservative text:"[[Harold Watkinson]]"
 bar:Thorneycroft
  from: 13/07/1962 till: 16/10/1964 color:Conservative text:"[[Peter Thorneycraft]]"
 bar:Healey
  from: 16/10/1964 till: 19/06/1970 color:Labour       text:"[[Denis Healey]]"
 bar:Carrington
  from: 20/06/1970 till: 08/01/1974 color:Conservative text:"[[Peter Carrington, 6th Baron Carrington|Peter Carrington]]"
 bar:Gilmour
  from: 08/01/1974 till: 04/03/1974 color:Conservative text:"[[Ian Gilmour]]"
 bar:Mason
  from: 05/03/1974 till: 09/09/1976 color:Labour       text:"[[Roy Mason]]"
 bar:Mulley 
  from: 10/09/1976 till: 04/05/1979 color:Labour       text:"[[Fred Mulley]]"
 bar:Pym
  from: 05/05/1979 till: 04/01/1981 color:Conservative text:"[[Francis Pym]]"
 bar:Nott
  from: 05/01/1981 till: 05/01/1983 color:Conservative text:"[[John Nott]]"
 bar:Heseltine
  from: 06/01/1983 till: 08/01/1986 color:Conservative text:"[[Michael Heseltine]]"
 bar:Younger
  from: 09/01/1986 till: 23/07/1989 color:Conservative text:"[[George Younger]]"
 bar:King
  from: 28/07/1989 till: 09/04/1992 color:Conservative text:"[[Tom King]]"
 bar:Rifkind
  from: 10/04/1992 till: 04/07/1995 color:Conservative text:"[[Malcom Rifkind]]"
 bar:Portillo 
  from: 05/07/1995 till: 02/05/1997 color:Conservative text:"[[Michael Portillo]]"
 bar:Robertson
  from: 03/05/1997 till: 11/10/1999 color:Labour       text:"[[George Robertson, Baron Robertson of Port Ellen|George Robertson]]"
 bar:Hoon
  from: 11/10/1999 till: 06/05/2005 color:Labour       text:"[[Geoff Hoon]]"
 bar:Reid
  from: 06/05/2005 till: 05/05/2006 color:Labour       text:"[[John Reid, Baron Reid of Cardowan|John Reid]]"
 bar:Browne
  from: 05/05/2006 till: 03/10/2008 color:Labour       text:"[[Des Browne]]"
 bar:Hutton
  from: 03/10/2008 till: 05/06/2009 color:Labour       text:"[[John Hutton, Baron Hutton of Furness|John Hutton]]"
 bar:Ainsworth
  from: 05/06/2009 till: 11/05/2010 color:Labour       text:"[[Bob Ainsworth]]"
 bar:Fox
  from: 12/05/2010 till: 14/10/2011 color:Conservative text:"[[Liam Fox]]"
 bar:Hammond
  from: 14/10/2011 till: 15/07/2014 color:Conservative text:"[[Philip Hammond]]"
 bar:Fallon
  from: 15/07/2014 till: 01/11/2017 color:Conservative text:"[[Michael Fallon]]"
 bar:Williamson
  from: 02/11/2017 till: 01/05/2019 color:Conservative text:"[[Gavin Williamson]]"
 bar:Mordaunt
  from: 01/05/2019 till: 24/07/2019 color:Conservative text:"[[Penny Mordaunt]]"
 bar:Wallace
  from: 24/07/2019 till: 31/08/2023 color:Conservative text:"[[Ben Wallace (politician)|Ben Wallace]]"
 bar:Shapps
  from: 31/08/2023 till: 05/07/2024 color:Conservative text:"[[Grant Shapps]]"
 bar:Healey2
  from: 05/07/2024 till: $today     color:Labour text:"[[John Healey (politician)|John Healey]]"
}}

==References==
{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Secretaries of State for Defence (UK)}}
* [http://www.gov.uk/mod www.gov.uk/mod]

{{Secretary of State for Defence}}
{{United Kingdom Ministry of Defence}}
{{Cabinet positions in the United Kingdom}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Secretary Of State For Defence}}
[[Category:Ministers of defence of the United Kingdom|Defence, Secretary of State for]]
[[Category:Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)]]
[[Category:Secretaries of state for defence (UK)| ]]
[[Category:Ministerial offices in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:1964 establishments in the United Kingdom]]
[[Category:NATO defence ministers|United Kingdom]]