David Lammy

Biography

David Lammy served as Foreign Secretary, Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, and was the first person of colour to hold the latter of these offices. An MP for over twenty years, he initially served as a minister in the Tony Blair and Gordon Brown administrations before being a prominent opposition campaigner and voice on justice, equality and democracy. He now considers the UK’s role in, and relationships with the rest of the world, and how politics and society interact.

As Foreign Secretary during a period of significant geopolitical upheaval, David steered UK diplomacy through the conflict in Gaza and the early phases of the US/Israel-Iran War. He also led support for Ukraine through the 100 Year Partnership, whilst his China Audit charted a new era of strategic competition with China. He played a key role in shifting the UK's post-Brexit relationship with the European Union, and alongside French and German counterparts led the UN reimposition of sanctions over Iran's nuclear programme. Throughout his time in the Foreign Office, his knowledge and experience of US politics supported his task of navigating the complex diplomatic challenges Western democracies. A decade after authoring the landmark Lammy Review into racial bias in the criminal justice system, David was placed in charge of the department responsible as Secretary of State for Justice and Lord Chancellor, a role he had also shadowed in opposition, as well as serving as Deputy Prime Minister.

Before serving in government, David was known as a committed constituency MP and respected as an advocate for social justice and equality. Representing one of the most diverse and economically unequal parts of London, he also led campaigns for the Windrush British Citizens to be granted full citizenship, and was at the forefront of the fight for justice for families affected by the Grenfell Tower disaster. Throughout his political career, David has sought to highlight and address the structural inequalities that undermine trust in institutions and democracy.

David studied Law at SOAS and became the first Black British student to study at Harvard Law School, before practising as a barrister in both the US and UK. He is the author of Tribes: How Our Need to Belong Can Make or Break Society, which examines how the concept of belonging has been warped and has damaged political, cultural and social discourse, and Out of the Ashes – Britain after the Riots, a personal and critical look at the causes and effects of the 2011 riots centred in his Tottenham constituency. Before entering government, he was a regular commentator in the media, frequently writing for The Guardian, The Times, The Spectator and the New Statesman, and presenting a weekend show on LBC.

David examines the forces reshaping transatlantic relations and global stability, with an insider's look at diplomacy, national security and leadership at the highest levels of government. He addresses the state of political discourse and democracy, examining how polarisation, institutional decline and economic insecurity have eroded public trust, and considers what leaders must do to rebuild confidence. He consider the future of Western security, the implications of geopolitical fragmentation, and how organisations and leaders can address inequality and restore common purpose.