For other uses, see Foreign secretary (disambiguation).
United Kingdom Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Royal Arms of His Majesty's Government
Incumbent David Cameron since 13 November 2023
Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office
Style
Foreign Secretary (informal)
The Right Honourable (within the UK and Commonwealth)
His Excellency (diplomatic)
Type
Minister of the Crown
Status
Secretary of State Great Office of State
Member of
Cabinet
Privy Council
National Security Council
Reports to
The Prime Minister
Residence
No. 1 Carlton Gardens (Official)
Chevening (Country House)
Seat
King Charles Street
Nominator
The Prime Minister
Appointer
The Monarch (on the advice of the Prime Minister)
Term length
At 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 holder
Charles James Fox (as Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs)
Deputy
Andrew Mitchell, Deputy Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs
Salary
£106,363 per annum (2022)[1]
Website
Foreign Secretary
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v
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e
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.
^"Salaries of Members of His Majesty's Government – Financial Year 2022–23" (PDF). 15 December 2022.
^"Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs". gov.uk. Retrieved 30 June 2021.
^"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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