Richard Harrington, Baron Harrington of Watford

British Conservative politician

Richard Irwin Harrington, Baron of Watford (born 4 November 1957) is a British politician. He served as a Member of Parliament (MP) for Watford from 2010 to 2019. He was the Minister for Business and Industry from 2017 to 2019.


The Lord Harrington of Watford
Official portrait, 2024
Minister of State for Refugees[a]
In office
8 March 2022 – 4 September 2022
Prime MinisterBoris Johnson
Preceded byVictoria Atkins[b]
Succeeded byOffice abolished
In office
14 September 2015 – 17 July 2016
Prime MinisterDavid Cameron
Preceded byOffice established
Succeeded byVictoria Atkins[c]
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Business and Industry
In office
14 June 2017 – 25 March 2019
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byJesse Norman
Succeeded byAndrew Stephenson
Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Pensions
In office
17 July 2016 – 14 June 2017
Prime MinisterTheresa May
Preceded byThe Baroness Altmann
Succeeded byGuy Opperman
Member of the House of Lords
Lord Temporal
Assumed office
15 March 2022
Life Peerage
Member of Parliament
for Watford
In office
6 May 2010 – 6 November 2019
Preceded byClaire Ward
Succeeded byDean Russell
Personal details
Born (1957-11-04) 4 November 1957 (age 66)
Leeds, England, UK
Political partyConservative (2010–2019, 2019–present)
Independent (2019)
Alma materKeble College, Oxford
WebsiteOfficial website Edit this at Wikidata

In March 2022, Harrington was appointed Minister of State for Refugees, with him being in charge of the UK's response to the humanitarian crisis caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine. He was elevated to Lord. In August 2022, the government announced that under his leadership, over 100,000 Ukrainian war refugees were safe in the UK. In September 2022, Harrington stepped down from the role, having completed his task.

Early Life change

Harrington was born on 4 November 1957 in Leeds to a British Jewish family. He was educated at Leeds Grammar School and attended Keble College and Oxford University. He began his career in business with a graduate scheme at the John Lewis Partnership.

Career change

In 1983, he founded Harvington Properties with two friends from his university.

Before he became a minister, Harrington was Vice Chairman of the Conservative Party and was David Cameron's Apprenticeship Advisor.

Harrington supports a range of charities, including the Variety Club Children's Society and several Watford charities.

Notes change

  1. Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Syrian Refugees from 2015 to 2016.
  2. As Minister for Afghan Resettlement.
  3. As Minister for Afghan Resettlement. Office vacant between 17 July 2016 and 16 September 2021.