Damian Green

Damian Green
Richard Townshend · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	Damian Green
Birth date	1956-01-17
Birth place	Barry, Wales
Nationality	British
Occupation	Politician, civil servant, journalist
Party	Conservative Party (UK)
Spouse	Alicia Collinson

Damian Green is a British Conservative politician who served as Member of Parliament for Ashford and held senior roles including First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office. He has been prominent in debates over immigration, welfare, digital policy, and parliamentary standards, and his career spans periods in the Civil Service, journalism, and frontline politics.

Early life and education

Born in Barry, Wales, he was raised in a family connected to public service and commerce. He attended Dartford Grammar School and read History at St Catharine's College, Cambridge, where he was active in student politics and societies. After Cambridge he pursued postgraduate studies at Nuffield College, Oxford in modern history and engaged with research circles linked to British political history and public policy.

Early career and journalism

Green began his professional life in the Civil Service working at the Department of Trade and Industry and on policy in Whitehall before moving into journalism. He joined the editorial staff of the Times and later worked at the Daily Telegraph and other national newspapers, writing on parliamentary affairs, foreign policy, and economic issues. During this period he developed networks across Westminster, with commentators and policymakers including figures from the Conservative Party (UK), think tanks such as the Institute of Economic Affairs and the Policy Exchange, and journalists from outlets like the BBC and ITV.

Parliamentary career

First elected as MP for Ashford (UK Parliament constituency) in the 1997 general election, he succeeded a predecessor in a seat in Kent and maintained it through subsequent elections. In the House of Commons he served on select committees including the Home Affairs Select Committee and participated in debates on immigration, welfare reform, and transport. He took roles within the Opposition as a spokesman for transport and later as shadow ministerial lead on policing and immigration under leaders such as William Hague, Iain Duncan Smith, and Michael Howard. After the 2010 general election he served on committees and in Commons managerial roles, collaborating with colleagues from parties including the Liberal Democrats and figures from the House of Lords.

Ministerial roles and government positions

Following the formation of the coalition government in 2010, he was appointed to the House of Commons Commission and later became a government minister. He served as Minister of State for Immigration at the Home Office and held senior cabinet-adjacent roles including Minister for the Cabinet Office and First Secretary of State under Prime Minister Theresa May. In those capacities he worked closely with the Cabinet Office apparatus, engaged with departments such as the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, and coordinated policy on digital affairs, civil service reform, and EU withdrawal discussions. His responsibilities put him in regular contact with senior civil servants, Permanent Secretaries, and secretariat staff during negotiations with the European Union and with ministers across portfolios including Chancellor of the Exchequer and Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union.

Controversies and investigations

His career has been marked by several high-profile controversies and inquiries. He was subject to police investigation linked to material related to parliamentary security and computer misuse, which involved interactions with the Metropolitan Police Service and the National Crime Agency. Parliamentary inquiries and standards processes, including work by the Committee on Standards and Privileges, scrutinised his conduct over representations to the House of Commons and interactions with journalists. Allegations concerning office behaviour led to investigations under procedures established after the broader parliamentary harassment debates triggered by the case of Penny Mordaunt and contemporaneous inquiries into conduct across Westminster. Outcomes included suspension from ministerial office and findings reported in parliamentary documents, prompting discussions among MPs from the Conservative Party (UK), Labour Party (UK), and crossbench peers.

Personal life and interests

He is married to Alicia Collinson and they have two children; the family home has been in Kent. He is known for an interest in rail transport and has campaigned on infrastructure projects affecting South East England, engaging with local authorities such as Kent County Council and constituency organizations. Outside politics he has written articles for national newspapers and contributed to policy debates at think tanks including the Centre for Policy Studies and the Henry Jackson Society, maintaining links with former civil servants and commentators from institutions like Chatham House and the Royal United Services Institute.

Category:1956 births Category:Conservative Party (UK) MPs Category:Members of the Parliament of the United Kingdom for English constituencies