Damian Green

The Right Honourable Damian Green MP
Secretary of State for Work and Pensions
Incumbent
Assumed office 14 July 2016
Prime Minister	Theresa May
Preceded by	Stephen Crabb
Minister of State for Policing and Criminal Justice
In office 4 September 2012 – 14 July 2014
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Nick Herbert
Succeeded by	Mike Penning
Minister of State for Immigration
In office 13 May 2010 – 4 September 2012
Prime Minister	David Cameron
Preceded by	Phil Woolas (Borders and Immigration)
Succeeded by	Mark Harper
Shadow Secretary of State for Transport
In office 11 November 2003 – 8 September 2004
Leader	Michael Howard
Preceded by	Tim Collins
Succeeded by	Tim Yeo (Environment and Transport)
Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills
In office 18 September 2001 – 11 November 2003
Leader	Iain Duncan Smith
Preceded by	Theresa May (Education and Employment)
Succeeded by	Tim Yeo
Member of Parliament for Ashford
Incumbent
Assumed office 2 May 1997
Preceded by	Keith Speed
Majority	17,297 (31.3%)
Personal details
Born	Damian Howard Green 17 January 1956 Barry, Wales
Political party	Conservative
Spouse(s)	Alicia Collinson
Alma mater	Balliol College, Oxford
Website	Official website

Damian Howard Green PC MP (born 17 January 1956) is a British politician who has been the Conservative Member of Parliament for Ashford since 1997 and Work and Pensions Secretary since July 2016. Green was born in Barry, Wales and studied PPE at Balliol College, Oxford. Before entering politics, Green worked as a journalist for the BBC, Channel 4 and The Times.

Green entered Parliament in the 1997 election by winning the seat of Ashford. He served in several shadow ministerial positions, including Transport Secretary and Immigration Minister. Green came to national prominence in November 2008 after being arrested and having his parliamentary office raided by police, although no case was brought.^[1] He was the Minister of State for Police and Criminal Justice until 14 July 2014. He was appointed as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Prime Minister Theresa May in July 2016.

Early life

Damian Green was born in Barry, Wales. He grew up in Reading, Berkshire and was educated at Reading School and then at Balliol College, Oxford where he was awarded a BA degree in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics in 1977. He was President of the Oxford Union in 1977 and was the vice-chairman of the Federation of Conservative Students (now known as Conservative Future) from 1980 until 1982.

During his time at Oxford, Green broke a wrist after a group of fellow students ambushed him and threw him into the River Cherwell. Reportedly the group included fellow Dominic Grieve, who was later to serve alongside Green as a Cabinet Minister.^[2][3]

Early career

In 1978 he was appointed by BBC Radio as a financial journalist, before joining Channel 4 News as a business producer in 1982. He joined The Times for a year in 1984 as the business news editor before returning to television journalism and Channel 4 as the business editor in 1985. He became the City editor and also a television presenter on Channel 4's Business Daily television programme in 1987 until he left television to join Prime Minister John Major's Policy Unit in 1992. Green had acted as an occasional speechwriter for Major since 1988. He left 10 Downing Street in 1994 to run his own public affairs consultancy.

Political career

Election

He stood against Labour's Ken Livingstone in Brent East at the 1992 general election, but lost by 5,971 votes. He was elected to the House of Commons for the Kent seat of Ashford at the 1997 general election following the retirement of Tory MP Keith Speed. Green held the seat with a majority of 5,345 and has remained the constituency's MP. He made his maiden speech on 20 May 1997.^[4]

Shadow Ministerial career

While a backbencher, he was a member of the Culture, Media and Sport select committee from 1997 until his appointment to the frontbench by William Hague in 1998 as a spokesman on education and employment. He spoke on the environment from 1999 and was promoted to the Shadow Cabinet by Iain Duncan Smith in 2001 as the Shadow Secretary of State for Education and Skills. In 2003, Michael Howard gave him the position of Shadow Secretary of State for Transport. In September 2004, he left the frontbench altogether of his own accord^[5] and joined the home affairs select committee, and was a member of the treasury committee after the 2005 general election. He returned to the frontbench under the leadership of David Cameron in 2005 as a spokesman on home affairs and shadow minister for immigration.

Green is Chairman of Parliamentary Mainstream, a vice president of the Tory Reform Group and is a vice chairman of the John Smith Memorial Trust.^[6] He is a former television journalist and adviser to John Major who entered Parliament in 1997. He has held the immigration brief since 2005.^[7]

2008 arrest

Green was arrested by the Metropolitan Police at his constituency home on 27 November 2008 on suspicion of "aiding and abetting misconduct in public office" and "conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office".^[1][8] The documents were reported to include information politically embarrassing to the then-Labour Government^[9] He was later released on bail. In a statement to Parliament on 3 December, Michael Martin, Speaker of the House of Commons, responsible for the security of the Palace of Westminster, stated that although the police undertaking the search had neither presented a search warrant nor given "the requisite advice that such a warrant was necessary", the search of the Parliamentary office had been undertaken with the express written consent of the Serjeant at Arms, who had signed a consent form without consulting the Clerk of the House.^[10]

Green speaking at a Policy Exchange meeting in 2013

The arrest led to speculation about the apparent coincidence that it was authorised on the last day in office of Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Ian Blair.^[11] It was criticised by political figures and journalists.^[12][13] Green is reported by Andrew Marr to have believed he was the subject of a bugging operation, which would have required the authorisation of the Home Secretary, who stated that she had not granted any such order.^[14] Green's constituency agent subsequently confirmed that a search of Green's property and car had been commissioned, but that no listening devices were discovered.^[15]

A junior Home Office civil servant, Christopher Galley subsequently admitted leaking four "embarrassing" documents to Green and was sacked.^[16]

Green speaking to the media on a trip to Manchester

On 16 April 2009, the Crown Prosecution Service announced that it was not going to bring a case against either Green or Galley, the Home Office civil servant who passed data to Green, as there was "insufficient evidence".^[17]

Police Minister

As Police Minister in the Coalition Government, Green called for increased partnerships between the police and the private sector.^[18] His sacking in the 2014 cabinet reshuffle was met with some surprise as he was considered to be highly regarded by colleagues.^[19][20]

In the 2015 general election, Green retained his seat with a majority of 19,296.^[21]

Brexit

Green was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 referendum.^[22]

Secretary of State for Work and Pensions

He was appointed as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Theresa May in July 2016.^[23]

Personal life

Damian Green married Alicia Collinson, a barrister, in April 1988 in the City of London. They have two daughters, both born in Hammersmith.^[24]

Publications

• ITN Budget Factbook, by Damian Green, 1984, ITN
• ITN Budget Factbook, by Damian Green, 1985, ITN
• ITN Budget Factbook, by Damian Green, 1986, ITN
• Better BBC: Public Service Broadcasting in the '90s, by Damian Green, 1990, Centre for Policy Studies ISBN 1-870265-77-7
• Freedom of the Airwaves by Damian Green, 1990, CPC ISBN 0-85070-806-0
• Communities in the Countryside, by Damian Green, 1995. ISBN 1-874097-11-9
• The Cross Media Revolution: Ownership and Control, Edited by Damian Green, 1995, University of Luton Press ISBN 0-86196-545-0
• Regulating the Media in the Digital Age, by Damian Green, 1997, European Media Forum
• 21st Century Conservatism, by Damian Green, 1998
• The Four Failures of the New Deal, by Damian Green, 1998, Centre for Policy Studies ISBN 1-897969-84-8

References

1. "Senior Tory arrested over leaks". BBC News. 28 November 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
2. Marsden, Sam (12 January 2013). "'Class rivalry among Tories' behind 1977 attack on Damian Green at Oxford". Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
3. "Water under the bridge? Attorney General Dominic Grieve 'threw Police minister Damian Green off bridge'.... but it was 35 years ago while the pair were at university". Independent. 9 January 2013. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
4. Department of the Official Report (Hansard), House of Commons, Westminster (20 May 1997). "House of Commons Hansard Debates". Retrieved 12 January 2009.
5. "Green calls for Tory compassion". BBC News. 13 September 2004. Retrieved 12 January 2009.
6. "MP for Ashford". Damian Green. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
7. "UK | UK Politics | Q&A: Damian Green affair". BBC News. 12 October 2009. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
8. Winnett, Robert; Kirkup, James (28 November 2008). "Tory shadow minister Damian Green arrested after obtaining leaked documents". The Daily Telegraph. London. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
9. "Q&A: The Damian Green Affair". The Guardian. 4 December 2008.
10. "Damian Green raid: Pressure on Speaker Michael Martin to go". The Daily Telegraph, 3 December 2008
11. Elliot, Francis; Ford, Richard (28 November 2008). "Tory frontbench MP Damian Green arrested over leaks". The Times. London. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
12. Chakrabarti, Shami (30 November 2008). "This arrest of an MP is a threat to us all". Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
13. "Harman concerned at Green affair". Sky News. 30 November 2008. Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 30 November 2008.
14. "MP's arrest not Stalinist - Smith". BBC News. 30 November 2008. Retrieved 1 December 2008.
15. "MP's home swept for 'police bugs'". BBC News. 5 December 2008. Retrieved 23 February 2012.
16. Summers, Deborah (24 April 2009). "Damian Green leaks civil servant sacked". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 17 May 2010.
17. "MP Will not be charged". BBC News. 16 April 2009. Retrieved 16 April 2009.
18. Morris, Nigel (11 September 2012). "New policing minister Damian Green calls for private sector to take a greater role in police work despite G4S shambles". Independent. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
19. "William Hague quits as a dozen ministers axed in cabinet reshuffle". Daily Telegraph. 15 July 2014. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
20. Mason, Rowena (15 July 2014). "Five ministers departing David Cameron's team". The Guardian. Retrieved 25 March 2015.
21. "Ashford parliamentary constituency - Election 2015". BBC News. 1 January 1970. Retrieved 11 September 2016.
22. Goodenough, Tom (16 February 2016). "Which Tory MPs back Brexit, who doesn't and who is still on the fence?". The Spectator. Retrieved 11 October 2016.
23. "Crabb resigns as Work and Pensions Secretary". BBC News. 14 July 2016.
24. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 2009-06-24.

External links

• Damian Green MP official constituency website
• Profile at Parliament of the United Kingdom
• Voting record at Public Whip
• Record in Parliament at TheyWorkForYou