Foreign Secretary

United Kingdom
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Incumbent
David Cameron
since 13 November 2023
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Style
TypeMinister of the Crown
StatusSecretary of State
Great Office of State
Member of
Reports toThe Prime Minister
Residence
SeatKing Charles Street
NominatorThe Prime Minister
AppointerThe Monarch
(on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term lengthAt His Majesty's pleasure
Formation
  • 27 March 1782
    (as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs)
  • 2 September 2020
    (as Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs)
First holderCharles James Fox
(as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs)
DeputyAndrew Mitchell, Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Salary£106,363 per annum (2022)[1]
WebsiteForeign 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.

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.

The role is deputised by the deputy foreign secretary, a position which was incepted in April 2024.

  1. ^ "Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23" (PDF). 15 December 2022.
  2. ^ "Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs". gov.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
  3. ^ "Afghanistan: The questions facing Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab". BBC News. 1 September 2021. Retrieved 4 September 2021. Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab will be grilled by the Foreign Affairs Committee over his handling of the UK's withdrawal from Afghanistan.

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