Foreign Secretary
United Kingdom government cabinet minister heading the Foreign and Commonwealth Office
The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs[a] is the Minister in charge of the United Kingdom's Foreign and Commonwealth Office. In many countries, this job is called Foreign minister.
![]() Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs | |
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Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office | |
Style | Foreign Secretary (informal) The Right Honourable (UK and Commonwealth) His Excellency (international)[1] |
Status | Great Office of State |
Member of | Cabinet Privy Council National Security Council (NSC) |
Reports to | The Prime Minister |
Residence | No. 1 Carlton Gardens |
Seat | Westminster |
Appointer | The Crown on advice of the Prime Minister |
Term length | At His Majesty's pleasure |
Formation | 27 March 1782 |
First holder | Charles James Fox |
Website | www.gov.uk |
History
changeThe Foreign Secretary merely handled relations with foreign countries and international organisations until the 1960s. There was a separate Commonwealth Secretary and a Colonial Secretary, but all three have been joined into one. David Lammy has been Foreign Secretary since 5 July 2024. The Foreign Secretary's is one of the four Great Offices of State.[2]
Footnotes
change- ↑ Known as the Foreign Secretary
References
change- ↑ "Public List" (PDF). Protocol and Liaison Service. United Nations. 24 August 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2017.
- ↑ "Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs". UK Government. Retrieved June 21, 2025.