Foreign Secretary
The secretary of state for foreign, Commonwealth and development affairs, also known as the foreign secretary, is a secretary of state in the Government of the United Kingdom, with responsibility for the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office.[2] The role is seen as one of the most senior ministers in the UK Government and is a Great Office of State. The incumbent is a member of the Cabinet of the United Kingdom and National Security Council, and reports directly to the prime minister.
For other uses, see Foreign secretary (disambiguation).
United Kingdom
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
- Foreign Secretary
(informal) - The Right Honourable
(within the UK and Commonwealth) - His Excellency
(diplomatic)
- No. 1 Carlton Gardens
(Official) - Chevening
(Country House)
King Charles Street
The Prime Minister
The Monarch
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
- 27 March 1782
(as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs) - 2 September 2020
(as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs)
Charles James Fox
(as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs)
Andrew Mitchell, Deputy Foreign Secretary
£106,363 per annum (2022)[1]
The officeholder works alongside the other Foreign Office ministers. The corresponding shadow minister is the shadow foreign secretary. The Foreign Affairs Select Committee also evaluates the secretary of state's performance.[3]
The current foreign secretary is David Cameron, who served as prime minister from 2010 until 2016. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointed Cameron to the post in the November 2023 cabinet reshuffle.
In contrast to what is generally known as a foreign minister in many other countries, the Foreign Secretary's remit includes:
Residence[edit]
The official residence of the foreign secretary is 1 Carlton Gardens, in London.[7] The foreign secretary also has the use of Chevening House, a country house in Kent, South East England,[8] and works from the Foreign Office in Whitehall.[9]