Foreign Secretary (United Kingdom)
The secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs, commonly 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. The role is 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.
The current foreign secretary is Yvette Cooper. She was appointed by Prime Minister Keir Starmer on 5 September 2025.
Responsibilities
In contrast to what is generally known as a foreign minister in many other countries, the foreign secretary's remit includes:- British relations with foreign countries and governments
- Promotion of British interests abroad
- Matters pertaining to the Commonwealth of Nations and the Overseas Territories
- Oversight for the Secret Intelligence Service and the Government Communications Headquarters
Residence
History
The title of secretary of state in the government of England dates back to the early 17th century. The position of secretary of state for foreign affairs was created in the British governmental reorganisation of 1782, in which the Northern Department and Southern Department became the Foreign Office and Home Office respectively. The India Office was closed down in 1947. It had been a constituent predecessor department of the Foreign Office, like the Colonial Office and the Dominions Office.The position of secretary of state for foreign and commonwealth affairs came into existence in 1968 with the merger of the functions of secretary of state for foreign affairs and the secretary of state for commonwealth affairs into a single department of state. Margaret Beckett, appointed in 2006 by Tony Blair, was the first woman to hold the post.
The post of secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs was created in 2020 when position holder Dominic Raab absorbed the responsibilities of the secretary of state for international development.
The deputy secretary of state for foreign, commonwealth and development affairs, also known as the deputy foreign secretary, was a minister of state position in the Government of the United Kingdom deputised to the foreign secretary with responsibility to represent the foreign secretary in the House of Commons. It was created for Andrew Mitchell, who was the only holder of the office, due to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak appointing former Prime Minister David Cameron a Life Peer in November 2023 to serve as Foreign Secretary from the House of Lords.