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David Willetts

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David Willetts
NameDavid Willetts
OfficeMinister of State for Universities and Science
Term start13 May 2010
Term end14 July 2014
PrimeministerDavid Cameron
PredecessorLord Drayson (Science)
SuccessorGreg Clark (Universities, Science and Cities)
Office2Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills
Term start215 June 1999
Term end26 May 2005
Leader2William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith, Michael Howard
Predecessor2Stephen Dorrell
Successor2Tim Collins
Office3Member of Parliament for Havant
Term start31 May 1992
Term end330 March 2015
Predecessor3Ian Lloyd
Successor3Alan Mak
PartyConservative
Alma materChrist Church, Oxford
Birth date9 March 1956
Birth placeBirmingham, England

David Willetts is a British politician, life peer, and academic who served as the Member of Parliament for Havant from 1992 to 2015. A prominent figure within the Conservative Party, he held several senior shadow cabinet positions before becoming Minister of State for Universities and Science in the Cameron–Clegg coalition government. Known for his intellectual approach to policy, particularly on higher education, science, and social mobility, he was elevated to the House of Lords in 2015 and has since pursued a significant career in think tanks and academia.

Early life and education

Born in Birmingham, he was educated at King Edward's School, Birmingham, a leading independent school. He subsequently won a scholarship to study Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Christ Church, Oxford, graduating with a first-class degree. At Oxford, he was active in the Oxford Union and the Conservative Association, laying the groundwork for his future political career. His academic prowess and early interest in economic and social policy were evident during this formative period.

Political career

Elected as the Member of Parliament for Havant in the 1992 general election, he quickly established himself as a thoughtful voice on the Treasury Select Committee. He served as Paymaster General from 1996 in John Major's government. Following the 1997 election defeat, he became a key figure in the party's modernization efforts, holding several shadow cabinet posts under leaders William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith, and Michael Howard. From 1999 to 2005, he served as Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills, developing policies on schools and further education.

Ministerial roles

Following the 2010 election, he was appointed Minister of State for Universities and Science in the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. In this role, he was the architect of the controversial reforms to higher education funding in England, which raised tuition fees to £9,000 following the Browne Review. He oversaw the protection of the science budget in cash terms and championed initiatives like the Catapult centres and the Eight Great Technologies framework. He worked closely with Vince Cable, the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, and resigned from government in July 2014.

Post-political career

After standing down as an MP at the 2015 general election, he was created a life peer as Baron Willetts of Havant. He served as a visiting professor at King's College London and became the Executive Chair of the Resolution Foundation, a think tank focused on living standards. In 2018, he was appointed as a Minister to the Board of Trade by Prime Minister Theresa May. He also became the President of the Academy of Social Sciences and a senior adviser to Boston Consulting Group.

Views and publications

He is recognized as a leading thinker on the centre-right, particularly on issues of social mobility, intergenerational fairness, and the knowledge economy. His publications include *The Pinch: How the Baby Boomers Took Their Children's Future – And Why They Should Give It Back* (2010) and *A University Education* (2017). He has been a frequent contributor to debates on industrial strategy, the funding of scientific research, and the role of technical education, often writing for publications like *The Times* and *The Guardian*.

Personal life

He is married to Sarah Butterfield, and the couple has two children. He is a supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and has listed his interests as reading, walking, and music. His brother, Richard Willetts, is a former Royal Navy officer. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 2014 Birthday Honours for political and public service.

Category:1956 births Category:Living people Category:Conservative Party (UK) life peers Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for Havant Category:Alumni of Christ Church, Oxford Category:UK MPs 1992–1997 Category:UK MPs 1997–2001 Category:UK MPs 2001–2005 Category:UK MPs 2005–2010 Category:UK MPs 2010–2015