Sir Alan Duncan | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2017 | |
| Minister of State for Europe and the Americas | |
| In office 15 July 2016 – 22 July 2019 | |
| Prime Minister | Theresa May |
| Preceded by | David Lidington |
| Succeeded by | Chris Pincher |
| Minister of State for International Development | |
| In office 13 May 2010 – 14 July 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | David Cameron |
| Preceded by | Gareth Thomas |
| Succeeded by | Desmond Swayne |
| Member of Parliament for Rutland and Melton | |
| In office 9 April 1992 – 6 November 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Michael Latham |
| Succeeded by | Alicia Kearns |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Alan James Carter Duncan 31 March 1957 Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire, England |
| Political party | Conservative |
| Spouse | James Dunseath |
| Alma mater | |
Sir Alan James Carter Duncan KCMG (born 31 March 1957)[1] is a British former politician who served as Minister of State for International Development from 2010 to 2014 and Minister of State for Europe and the Americas from 2016 to 2019.[2] A member of the Conservative Party, he was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Rutland and Melton from 1992 to 2019.
He began his career in the oil industry with Royal Dutch Shell, and was first elected to the House of Commons in the 1992 general election. After gaining several minor positions in the government of John Major, he played a key role in William Hague's successful bid for the Conservative leadership in 1997. Duncan received several promotions to the Conservative front bench, and eventually joined the Shadow Cabinet after the 2005 general election. He stood for the Conservative leadership in 2005, but withdrew early on because of a lack of support. Eventual winner David Cameron appointed him Shadow Secretary of State for Trade and Industry in December 2005; the name of the department he shadowed was changed to Department for Business, Enterprise and Regulatory Reform in July 2007.
Following the 2010 general election, the new Conservative Prime Minister Cameron appointed Duncan as Minister of State for International Development.[3] He left this post following the government reshuffle in July 2014,[4] and was subsequently appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George in September 2014, for services to international development and to UK–Middle East relations.[5] While on the backbenches, Duncan served on the Intelligence and Security Committee between 2015 and 2016.[6]
After two years out of government, he returned to frontline politics when new Prime Minister Theresa May appointed him as Minister for Europe and the Americas, and effective deputy to then-Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, in July 2016.[7] Duncan resigned as Minister of State on 22 July 2019 citing Johnson's election to the Tory leadership and, hence, the UK's premiership.[8][9]
He became the first openly gay Conservative Member of Parliament, publicly coming out in 2002.[10]
- ^ "Duncan, Rt Hon. Sir Alan (James Carter), (born 31 March 1957), PC 2010; MP (C) Rutland and Melton, since 1992; Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, since 2016". Who's Who. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.14283.
- ^ "Minister of State for Europe and the Americas at the Foreign & Commonwealth Office". Foreign & Commonwealth Office. Retrieved 7 March 2022 – via GOV.UK.
- ^ "Her Majesty's Government". Prime Minister's Office. 13 May 2010. Archived from the original on 15 May 2010. Retrieved 15 May 2010.
- ^ Martin, Dan J. (22 July 2014). "Rutland and Melton MP Alan Duncan receives a knighthood". Leicester Mercury. Local World. Archived from the original on 25 July 2014. Retrieved 22 July 2014.
- ^ "No. 60994". The London Gazette. 19 September 2014. p. 18358.
- ^ "Sir Alan Duncan". UK Parliament. Retrieved 7 March 2022.
- ^ Hope, Christopher (17 July 2016). "Theresa May appoints her own spy at the Foreign Office to keep a check on Boris Johnson as reshuffle is finalised". The Telegraph. Retrieved 17 July 2016.(subscription required)
- ^ Heffer, Greg (22 July 2019). "Foreign Office minister Sir Alan Duncan resigns ahead of Boris Johnson's expected premiership". Sky News. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ^ "Tory leadership race: Alan Duncan resigns as minister". BBC News. 22 July 2019. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
Guardian2002was invoked but never defined (see the help page).