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Shadow Secretary of State for Defence
Official portrait of Nia Griffith crop 2
Appointed by Leader of the Opposition
Incumbent Nia Griffith

The Shadow Secretary of State for Defence is a member of the UK Shadow Cabinet responsible for the scrutiny of the Secretary of State for Defence and the department, the Ministry of Defence. The post is currently held by Nia Griffith.

Shadow Secretaries of State[]

Name Entered office Left office Political party Shadow Cabinet
Denis Healey Denis Healey 1 April 1964 16 October 1964 Labour Harold Wilson
Peter Thorneycroft Peter Thorneycroft cropped 16 October 1964 7 July 1965 Conservative Alec Douglas-Home
Enoch Powell Enoch Powell 6 Allan Warren 7 July 1965 21 April 1968 Conservative Ted Heath
Reginald Maudling File:Reginald Maudling.jpg 21 April 1968 1969 Conservative
Geoffrey Rippon Geoffrey Rippon (1970) 1969 8 July 1970 Conservative
George Thomson No image 8 July 1970 10 April 1972 Labour Harold Wilson
Fred Peart No image 10 April 1972 4 March 1974 Labour
Ian Gilmour No image 4 March 1974 29 October 1974 Conservative Ted Heath
Peter Walker No image 29 October 1974 18 February 1975 Conservative
George Younger George Younger 18 February 1975 15 January 1976 Conservative Margaret Thatcher
Ian Gilmour No image 15 January 1976 4 May 1979 Conservative
Fred Mulley Fred Mulley 4 May 1979 14 June 1979 Labour Jim Callaghan
William Rodgers No image 14 June 1979 8 December 1980 Labour
Brynmor John No image 8 December 1980 24 November 1981 Labour Michael Foot
John Silkin No image 24 November 1981 26 October 1984 Labour
Neil Kinnock
Denzil Davies No image 26 October 1984 14 June 1988 Labour
Martin O'Neill Official portrait of Lord O'Neill of Clackmannan crop 2 14 June 1988 18 July 1992 Labour
David Clark Official portrait of Lord Clark of Windermere crop 2 18 July 1992 2 May 1997 Labour John Smith
Margaret Beckett
Tony Blair
John Major John Major 2014 2 May 1997 11 June 1997 Conservative John Major
George Young George Young Minister 11 June 1997 1 June 1998 Conservative William Hague
John Maples 1 June 1998 15 June 1999 Conservative
Iain Duncan Smith Official portrait of Mr Iain Duncan Smith crop 2 15 June 1999 18 September 2001 Conservative
Bernard Jenkin Official portrait of Mr Bernard Jenkin crop 2 18 September 2001 6 November 2003 Conservative Iain Duncan Smith
Nicholas Soames Official portrait of Sir Nicholas Soames crop 2 6 November 2003 10 May 2005 Conservative Michael Howard
Michael Ancram Global Strategy Forum (6963381142) cropped 10 May 2005 6 December 2005 Conservative
Liam Fox Official portrait of Dr Liam Fox crop 2 6 December 2005 11 May 2010 Conservative David Cameron
Bob Ainsworth Bob Ainsworth cropped 11 May 2010 8 October 2010 Labour Harriet Harman
Jim Murphy Jim Murphy 8 October 2010 7 October 2013 Labour Ed Miliband
Vernon Coaker Official portrait of Vernon Coaker crop 2 7 October 2013 14 September 2015 Labour
Maria Eagle Official portrait of Maria Eagle crop 2 14 September 2015 6 January 2016 Labour Jeremy Corbyn
Emily Thornberry Official portrait of Emily Thornberry crop 2 6 January 2016 27 June 2016 Labour
Clive Lewis Official portrait of Clive Lewis crop 2 27 June 2016 6 October 2016 Labour
Nia Griffith Official portrait of Nia Griffith crop 2 6 October 2016 Incumbent Labour

See also[]

References[]

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