List of military veterans in British politics

This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages)

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
Find sources: "List of military veterans in British politics" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2013) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

|

This article needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. (March 2019)

|

(Learn how and when to remove this message)

This is a list of currently serving members House of Commons, House of Lords, Scottish Parliament, National Assembly for Wales, Northern Ireland Assembly, Police and Crime Commissioner who are military veterans.

## House of Commons[edit]

Name  | Constituency  | Party  | Service & Branch  | Years  | Rank  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|
|

Leo Docherty | Aldershot |  | Conservative | Scots Guards (2002 - 2006)  | 4  | Captain |
Dan Jarvis MBE | Barnsley Central |  | Labour | Parachute Regiment (9 July 1994 - 3 March 2011)  | 16  | Major |
John Baron | Basildon and Billericay |  | Conservative | The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (1984 – 1987)  | 3  | Captain |
Bob Stewart | Beckenham |  | Conservative | Cheshire Regiment (25 July 1969 - 1 February 1996)  | 27  | Colonel | He was awarded the DSO in 1993
Chris Green | Bolton West |  | Conservative | Territorial Army |  |  |
Tobias Ellwood | Bournemouth East |  | Conservative | Royal Green Jackets (1991 – 1996)  | 5  | Captain |
James Sunderland | Bracknell |  | Conservative | Royal Logistics Corps (1993 – 2019)  | 26  | Colonel |
James Cleverly | Braintree |  | Conservative | Royal Artillery (1991–present)  | 30  | Lieutenant Colonel | He was awarded the Territorial Decoration (TD)
Ian Liddell-Grainger | Bridgwater and West Somerset |  | Conservative | Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (1980 – 1997)  | 17  | Major |
Darren Henry | Broxtowe |  | Conservative | Royal Air Force (Logistics officer - 26 years)  | 26  | Squadron Leader |
Simon Hart | Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire |  | Conservative | Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (five years)  | 5  |  |
Sir Iain Duncan Smith | Chingford and Woodford Green |  | Conservative | Scots Guards (1975 – 1981)  | 6  | Lieutenant |
Jason McCartney | Colne Valley |  | Conservative | Royal Air Force (1988 – 1997)  | 9  | Flight Lieutenant |
Gregory Campbell | East Londonderry |  | DUP | Ulster Defence Regiment (1981 – 1985)  | 4  |  |
Jack Lopresti | Filton and Bradley Stoke |  | Conservative | Territorial Army (2007 – present)  | 14  | Corporal |
Sir Edward Leigh | Gainsborough |  | Conservative | Honourable Artillery Company |  | Trooper[1] |
Adam Holloway | Gravesham |  | Conservative | Grenadier Guards, Special Air Service[2] (1991 – 1997)  | 6  | Captain |
David Davis | Haltemprice and Howden |  | Conservative | Artists Rifles (1966 – 1967)  | 1  |  |
Mike Penning | Hemel Hempstead |  | Conservative | Grenadier Guards (1974 – 1980)  | 6  |  |
Robert Seeley MBE | Isle of Wight |  | Conservative | UKSF (Reserve) (2008 - 2017)  | 9  | Captain |
Philip Hollobone | Kettering |  | Conservative | Parachute Regiment (1989 – 1997)  | 8  | Corporal |
Jeffrey Donaldson | Lagan Valley |  | DUP | Ulster Defence Regiment (1981 – 1985)  | 4  |  |
Flick Drummond | Meon Valley |  | Conservative | Intelligence Corps |  |  |
David Davies | Monmouth |  | Conservative | Royal Artillery (1988 – 1989)  | 1  | Gunner |
Desmond Swayne | New Forest West |  | Conservative | Royal Mercian and Lancastrian Yeomanry (1987 – present)  | 34  | Major | He was awarded the Territorial Decoration (TD) in 2000
Dr. Julian Lewis | New Forest East |  | Conservative | Royal Naval Reserve (1979 - 1982)  | 3  | Seaman |
Steve Barclay | North East Cambridgeshire |  | Conservative | Royal Regiment of Fusiliers |  | Lieutenant |
Bill Wiggin | North Herefordshire |  | Conservative | Royal Welch Fusiliers |  | Lieutenant |
Andrew Bridgen | North West Leicestershire |  | Conservative | —  | 0  | During Training Lieutenant | Underwent some training with the Royal Marines did not pass out
James Gray | North Wiltshire |  | Conservative | Honourable Artillery Company (1977–84)  | 7  | Lance Corporal[3] |
Clive Lewis | Norwich South |  | Labour | Territorial Army (2000 - 2009)  | 9  | Lieutenant | Fr[4]
Johnny Mercer | Plymouth Moor View |  | Conservative | Royal Artillery (2002 - 2013)  | 11  | Captain | [4]
Penny Mordaunt | Portsmouth North |  | Conservative | Royal Naval Reserve (2010–2019)  | 11  | Sub-lieutenant (honorary Captain)  | Joined after being elected and was unable to attend any training due to parliamentary committments.[citation needed]
Mark Francois | Rayleigh and Wickford |  | Conservative | Royal Anglian Regiment (1985 - 1991)  | 6  | Lieutenant |
Crispin Blunt | Reigate |  | Conservative | 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) (1979 - 1990)  | 11  | Captain |
Royston Smith | Southampton Itchen |  | Conservative | Royal Air Force (1980 - 1990)  | 10  | Airman (Engineer)[5] | [4]
Richard Drax | South Dorset |  | Conservative | Coldstream Guards (1978 - 1987)  | 9  | Captain |
Andrew Selous | South West Bedfordshire |  | Conservative | Royal Regiment of Fusiliers (1981 - 1994)  | 13  | Major |
Dr. Andrew Murrison | South West Wiltshire |  | Conservative | Royal Navy (1989–present)  | 32  | Surgeon Commander |
Andrew Mitchell | Sutton Coldfield |  | Conservative | Royal Navy (February 1975 - 9 February 1977)  | 2  | Lieutenant |
Tom Tugendhat MBE | Tonbridge and Malling |  | Conservative | Educational and Training Services Branch of the Adjutant General's Corps (2000 - 2013)  | 13  | Lieutenant Colonel |
James Heappey | Wells |  | Conservative | Royal Gloucestershire, Berkshire and Wiltshire Regiment and then The Rifles (2004 - 2012)  | 8  | Major |
Andrew Bowie | West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine |  | Conservative | Royal Navy (2007 - 2010)  | 3  | Sub Lieutenant |
Stuart Anderson | Wolverhampton South West |  | Conservative | Royal Green Jackets (1993 - 2001)  | 8  |  |
Sarah Atherton | Wrexham |  | Conservative | British Army Intelligence Corps |  |  |
Steve Baker | Wycombe |  | Conservative | Royal Air Force (1989 - 1999)  | 10  | Flight Lieutenant.[6] |
Ben Wallace | Wyre and Preston North |  | Conservative | Scots Guards (1991 - 1998)  | 7  | Captain |

## House of Lords[edit]

Name  | Party  | Service & Branch  | Rank  | Notes

|
|
|
|

Euan Geddes, 3rd Baron Geddes |  | Conservative | Royal Naval Reserve | Lieutenant Commander |
John Eccles, 2nd Viscount Eccles |  | Conservative | King's Royal Rifle Corps | Lieutenant |
Simon Arthur, 4th Baron Glenarthur |  | Conservative | The Royal Hussars (1976 – 1980)  | Major |
Robin Bridgeman, 3rd Viscount Bridgeman |  | Conservative | Royal Green Jackets (1950 – 1953)  | Lieutenant |
Arthur Gore, 9th Earl of Arran |  | Conservative | Grenadier Guards | Lieutenant |
Rupert Ponsonby, 7th Baron de Mauley |  | Conservative | Royal Wessex Yeomanry (1976 – 2005)  | Lieutenant Colonel | TD (1988)
Hugh Trenchard, 3rd Viscount Trenchard |  | Conservative | Household Cavalry (1973 – 1983)  | Captain |
Charles Cathcart, 7th Earl Cathcart |  | Conservative | Scots Guards (1973 – 1975)  | Lieutenant |
Thomas Ashton, 4th Baron Ashton of Hyde |  | Conservative | Royal Wessex Yeomanry | Lieutenant |
Alan Brooke, 3rd Viscount Brookeborough |  | Crossbench | 17th/21st Lancers (1971 – 1977)
Ulster Defence Regiment /
Royal Irish Regiment (1977 – 1997)  | Colonel |
Merlin Hay, 24th Earl of Erroll |  | Crossbench | Atholl Highlanders (1974 – 1997)  | Colonel |
Patrick Boyle, 10th Earl of Glasgow |  | Liberal Democrats | Royal Naval Reserve (1960 – 1963)  | Sub-Lieutenant |
Jeffrey Sterling, Baron Sterling of Plaistow |  | Conservative | Royal Naval Reserve | Rear Admiral |
David Hope, Baron Hope of Craighead |  | Crossbench | Seaforth Highlanders (1957 – 1959)  | Lieutenant |
Kenneth Baker, Baron Baker of Dorking |  | Conservative | British Army | Lieutenant |
Tony Christopher, Baron Christopher |  | Labour | Royal Air Force (1944 – 1948)  |  |
Tom King, Baron King of Bridgwater |  | Conservative | King's African Rifles | Lieutenant |
Michael Heseltine, Baron Heseltine |  | Non-affiliated | Welsh Guards (1959)  | Lieutenant |
Ken Maginnis, Baron Maginnis of Drumglass |  | Independent Ulster Unionist | Ulster Defence Regiment (1971 – 1981) | Major |
John Burnett, Baron Burnett |  | Liberal Democrats | Royal Marines | Commando |
Richard Harries, Baron Harries of Pentregarth |  | Crossbench | Royal Corps of Signals (1955 – 1958)  | Lieutenant |
Michael Walker, Baron Walker of Aldringham |  | Crossbench | British Army (1966 – 2006)  | Field Marshal | Chief of the Defence Staff (2003 – 2006)
Alan West, Baron West of Spithead |  | Labour | Royal Navy (1965 – 2006)  | Admiral | DSC (1983)
First Sea Lord (2002 – 2006)
Robin Janvrin, Baron Janvrin |  | Crossbench | Royal Navy (1964 – 1975)  | Lieutenant |
Richard Dannatt, Baron Dannatt |  | Crossbench | British Army (1971 – 2009)  | General | MC (1972)
Chief of the General Staff (2006 – 2009)
Jock Stirrup, Baron Stirrup |  | Crossbench | Royal Air Force (1968 – 2011)  | Marshal of the Royal Air Force | Chief of the Defence Staff (2006 – 2010)
John Boyle, 15th Earl of Cork |  | Crossbench | Royal Navy (1963 – 1978)  | Lieutenant Commander |
Mark Lancaster, Baron Lancaster of Kimbolton |  | Conservative | Royal Engineers (1988 – present)  | Major General | TD (2002)
VRSM (2012)
Andrew Robathan, Baron Robathan |  | Conservative | Coldstream Guards
Special Air Service (1974 – 1989)  | Major |
Richard Benyon, Baron Benyon |  | Conservative | Royal Green Jackets (1980 – 1985)  |  |
Thomas Coke, 8th Earl of Leicester |  | Conservative | Scots Guards (1987 – 1991)  |  |
Ruth Davidson, Baroness Davidson of Lundin Links |  | Conservative | Territorial Army (2003 – 2006)  | Signaller |
David Hacking, 3rd Baron Hacking |  | Labour | Royal Naval Reserve (1954 – 1964)  | Lieutenant |
Clifton Wrottesley, 6th Baron Wrottesley |  | Conservative | Grenadier Guards | Captain |
Nicholas Soames, Baron Soames of Fletching |  | Conservative | 11th Hussars / Royal Hussars
Regular Army Reserve (1970 – 1975)  | 2nd Lieutenant |
Hugo Swire, Baron Swire |  | Conservative | Grenadier Guards (1980 – 1983)  |  |
Michael Hintze, Baron Hintze |  | Conservative | Australian Army | Captain |
Stuart Peach, Baron Peach |  | Crossbench | Royal Air Force (1974 – 2022)  | Air Chief Marshall | Chief of the Defence Staff (2016 – 2018)
Chair of the NATO Military Committee (2018 – 2021)

## Police and Crime Commissioner[edit]

Name  | Police area  | Party  | Service & Branch  | Rank  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Tony Hogg | Devon and Cornwall Police |  | Conservative | Royal Navy (1975 - 2000)  | Commodore | He was awarded the Air Force Cross in 1978
Nick Alston | Essex Police |  | Conservative | Royal Navy | Commander | He was awarded the CBE in 1997
Sir Clive Loader | Leicestershire Constabulary |  | Conservative | Royal Air Force (1973 - 2009)  | Air Chief Marshal | He was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) whilst Commander-in-Chief Air Command, awarded the OBE, South Atlantic Medal, NATO Medal, General Service Medal
Kevin Hurley | Surrey Police |  | Independent | Royal Military Police (1971 -2011)  | Major | Originally stood for the Conservative nomination but was unsuccessful
Anthony Stansfield | Thames Valley Police |  | Conservative | British Army | Brigadier |
Christopher Salmon | Dyfed-Powys Police |  | Conservative | The Rifles (2003-2007)  | Captain |
Peter McCall | Cumbria Constabulary |  | Conservative | Royal Logistic Corps (1982-2015)  | Colonel |

## London Assembly[edit]

Name  | Constituency  | Party  | Service & Branch  | Rank  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

|  |  | Conservative |  |  |

## Scottish Parliament[edit]

Name  | Constituency  | Party  | Service & Branch  | Rank  | Notes

|
|
|
|
|

Keith Brown | Clackmannanshire and Dunblane |  | SNP | Royal Marines (1980 – 1983)  | Marine |
Mark Griffin | Central Scotland |  | Labour | Territorial Army | Private |
Paul Sweeney | Glasgow |  | Labour | Royal Corps of Signals / Royal Regiment of Scotland (2006 – 2018) (Reserve)  |  | Volunteer Reserves Service Medal

## See also[edit]

* British Army
* Royal Air Force
* Royal Navy
* Royal Marines
* Defence Select Committee

## References[edit]

1. ^ "Defence Reforms - Thursday 17 October 2013 - Hansard - UK Parliament".
2. ^ https://www.newsshopper.co.uk/news/607569.former-sas-man-enjoys-being-mp/
3. ^ "About James".
4. ^ a b c "Meet The MPs With Military Careers". Forces Network. 9 June 2017. Retrieved 10 July 2019.
5. ^ "Royston Smith MP - Who is he?".
6. ^ "No. 55601". The London Gazette. 7 September 1999. p. 9595.