James Cleverly: Difference between revisions
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===Foreign Secretary=== |
===Foreign Secretary=== |
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[[File:Foreign Secretary James Cleverly meets Catherine Colonna (52738581323).jpg|thumb|Cleverly receiving the guard of honour as Foreign Secretary at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris, 2023]] |
[[File:Foreign Secretary James Cleverly meets Catherine Colonna (52738581323).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Cleverly receiving the guard of honour as Foreign Secretary at the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Paris, 2023]] |
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Cleverly was promoted [[Foreign Secretary]] by incoming Prime Minister [[Liz Truss]] on 6 September 2022. |
Cleverly was promoted [[Foreign Secretary]] by incoming Prime Minister [[Liz Truss]] on 6 September 2022. |
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Endorsing former Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] ahead of the [[October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election]] Johnson ended up not standing, so Cleverly then endorsed [[Rishi Sunak]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New prime minister – latest: Sunak tight-lipped as he arrives in Westminster – as bookies say race all-but over |url=https://news.sky.com/story/next-prime-minister-uk-latest-boris-johnson-rishi-sunak-truss-mordaunt-12593360 |access-date=24 October 2022 |website=Sky News }}</ref> Sunak re-appointed him to [[Sunak ministry|his cabinet]] as Foreign Secretary on 25 October 2022. |
Endorsing former Prime Minister [[Boris Johnson]] ahead of the [[October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election]] Johnson ended up not standing, so Cleverly then endorsed [[Rishi Sunak]].<ref>{{cite web |title=New prime minister – latest: Sunak tight-lipped as he arrives in Westminster – as bookies say race all-but over |url=https://news.sky.com/story/next-prime-minister-uk-latest-boris-johnson-rishi-sunak-truss-mordaunt-12593360 |access-date=24 October 2022 |website=Sky News }}</ref> Sunak re-appointed him to [[Sunak ministry|his cabinet]] as Foreign Secretary on 25 October 2022. |
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[[File:Foreign Secretary James Cleverly meets Ethiopia Prime Minister - 52550983134.jpg|thumb|Cleverly with [[Ethiopia]]'s Prime Minister [[Abiy Ahmed]] on 8 December 2022]] |
[[File:Foreign Secretary James Cleverly meets Ethiopia Prime Minister - 52550983134.jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Cleverly with [[Ethiopia]]'s Prime Minister [[Abiy Ahmed]] on 8 December 2022]] |
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In October 2022, due to doubts raised that British homosexual football fans would be safe at the 2022 [[FIFA World Cup|Football World Cup]] taking place in [[Qatar]], Cleverly suggested that they should show "a little bit of flex and compromise",<ref>{{cite news |title=LGBT football fans told to be respectful at Qatar World Cup|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63401193 |access-date=27 October 2022 |work=BBC News }}</ref> adding that he thought it was "important when you're a visitor to a country that you respect the culture of your host nation." He described Qatar as "an Islamic country with a very different set of cultural norms to our own [those of Britain]".<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news |title=Top U.K. diplomat tells LGBT World Cup fans to 'be respectful' in Qatar|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/10/26/lgbt-qatar-world-cup-james-cleverly/ |access-date=27 October 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post }}</ref> Labour called his advice "shockingly tone-deaf",<ref>{{cite news |title=James Cleverly accused of 'tone-deaf' advice to gay World Cup fans heading to Qatar|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/james-cleverly-accused-of-tone-deaf-advice-to-gay-world-cup-fans-heading-to-qatar-h3xdj8nnr |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=The Times |last1=Mitib |first1=Molly Hudson }}</ref> due to the fact that [[LGBT rights in Qatar|gay activity is illegal in Qatar]] and that Cleverly had known that if gay people expressed their homosexuality openly in Qatar they would be arrested. Earlier in 2022, LGBT organisations stated that "progress has been slow" in attempting to ensure the safety of LGBT football fans with [[FIFA]] in Qatar – and additionally that reassurances from Qatar had "not been adequate".<ref>{{cite news |title=LGBT football fans told to be respectful at Qatar World Cup|work=BBC News |date=26 October 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63401193 |access-date=27 October 2022 }}</ref> In Qatar sex between men carries a penalty of up to 7 years in prison.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> |
In October 2022, due to doubts raised that British homosexual football fans would be safe at the 2022 [[FIFA World Cup|Football World Cup]] taking place in [[Qatar]], Cleverly suggested that they should show "a little bit of flex and compromise",<ref>{{cite news |title=LGBT football fans told to be respectful at Qatar World Cup|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63401193 |access-date=27 October 2022 |work=BBC News }}</ref> adding that he thought it was "important when you're a visitor to a country that you respect the culture of your host nation." He described Qatar as "an Islamic country with a very different set of cultural norms to our own [those of Britain]".<ref name="washingtonpost.com">{{cite news |title=Top U.K. diplomat tells LGBT World Cup fans to 'be respectful' in Qatar|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/2022/10/26/lgbt-qatar-world-cup-james-cleverly/ |access-date=27 October 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post }}</ref> Labour called his advice "shockingly tone-deaf",<ref>{{cite news |title=James Cleverly accused of 'tone-deaf' advice to gay World Cup fans heading to Qatar|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/james-cleverly-accused-of-tone-deaf-advice-to-gay-world-cup-fans-heading-to-qatar-h3xdj8nnr |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=The Times |last1=Mitib |first1=Molly Hudson }}</ref> due to the fact that [[LGBT rights in Qatar|gay activity is illegal in Qatar]] and that Cleverly had known that if gay people expressed their homosexuality openly in Qatar they would be arrested. Earlier in 2022, LGBT organisations stated that "progress has been slow" in attempting to ensure the safety of LGBT football fans with [[FIFA]] in Qatar – and additionally that reassurances from Qatar had "not been adequate".<ref>{{cite news |title=LGBT football fans told to be respectful at Qatar World Cup|work=BBC News |date=26 October 2022 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-63401193 |access-date=27 October 2022 }}</ref> In Qatar sex between men carries a penalty of up to 7 years in prison.<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/> |
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[[File:Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visits Israel (53180940629).jpg|thumb|Cleverly with [[Israel]]i Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] in Jerusalem, 11 September 2023]] |
[[File:Foreign Secretary James Cleverly visits Israel (53180940629).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Cleverly with [[Israel]]i Prime Minister [[Benjamin Netanyahu]] in Jerusalem, 11 September 2023]] |
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In May 2022, the country's [[emir]], [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani]], said that he believed criticism about Qatar being chosen to host the World Cup came from "people who cannot accept the idea that an Arab Muslim country would host a tournament like the World Cup".<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Foreign Secretary James Cleverly criticised for saying LGBT football fans should 'respect' Qatar|url=https://news.sky.com/story/foreign-secretary-james-cleverly-criticised-for-saying-lgbt-football-fans-should-respect-qatar-12730610 |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=Sky News }}</ref> Sunak's spokesperson distanced themselves from Cleverly's comments, saying that fans should not have to "compromise who they are", as well as that "Qatar's policies are not those of the UK Government and not ones we would endorse".<ref>{{cite web |title=LGBT+ fans should be 'respectful' of Qatar during World Cup, UK foreign secretary says |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/james-clevely-world-cup-qatar-lgbt-rights-b2211263.html |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=The Independent }}</ref> |
In May 2022, the country's [[emir]], [[Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani|Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani]], said that he believed criticism about Qatar being chosen to host the World Cup came from "people who cannot accept the idea that an Arab Muslim country would host a tournament like the World Cup".<ref name="washingtonpost.com"/><ref>{{cite web |title=Foreign Secretary James Cleverly criticised for saying LGBT football fans should 'respect' Qatar|url=https://news.sky.com/story/foreign-secretary-james-cleverly-criticised-for-saying-lgbt-football-fans-should-respect-qatar-12730610 |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=Sky News }}</ref> Sunak's spokesperson distanced themselves from Cleverly's comments, saying that fans should not have to "compromise who they are", as well as that "Qatar's policies are not those of the UK Government and not ones we would endorse".<ref>{{cite web |title=LGBT+ fans should be 'respectful' of Qatar during World Cup, UK foreign secretary says |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/james-clevely-world-cup-qatar-lgbt-rights-b2211263.html |access-date=27 October 2022 |website=The Independent }}</ref> |
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In December 2022, despite [[Human rights in Saudi Arabia|human rights concerns]] in [[Saudi Arabia]], Cleverly called Saudi Arabia a strategic partner.<ref>{{cite news |title=James Cleverly says Saudis are our strategic partners despite human rights concerns |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/james-cleverly-says-saudis-are-our-strategic-partners-despite-human-rights-concerns-zzxtk30b9 |work=The Times |date=12 December 2022}}</ref> In the same month, Cleverly met his Norwegian counterpart, [[Anniken Huitfeldt]], to discuss continued military cooperation and attended the annual Christmas tree lighting.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.nrk.no/urix/tente-ny-norsk-julegran-_-spokte-med-trafalgar-treet-1.16208090 | title = Tente ny norsk julegran – spøkte med Trafalgar-treet | work = [[NRK]] | date= 5 December 2022 | access-date= 6 December 2022 | language = no | last= Almås |first=Gry Blekastad}}</ref> |
In December 2022, despite [[Human rights in Saudi Arabia|human rights concerns]] in [[Saudi Arabia]], Cleverly called Saudi Arabia a strategic partner.<ref>{{cite news |title=James Cleverly says Saudis are our strategic partners despite human rights concerns |url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/james-cleverly-says-saudis-are-our-strategic-partners-despite-human-rights-concerns-zzxtk30b9 |work=The Times |date=12 December 2022}}</ref> In the same month, Cleverly met his Norwegian counterpart, [[Anniken Huitfeldt]], to discuss continued military cooperation and attended the annual Christmas tree lighting.<ref>{{cite web | url= https://www.nrk.no/urix/tente-ny-norsk-julegran-_-spokte-med-trafalgar-treet-1.16208090 | title = Tente ny norsk julegran – spøkte med Trafalgar-treet | work = [[NRK]] | date= 5 December 2022 | access-date= 6 December 2022 | language = no | last= Almås |first=Gry Blekastad}}</ref> |
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[[File:Secretary Blinken Holds a Press Conference with UK Foreign Secretary Cleverly (52633939089).jpg|thumb|Cleverly in Washington DC with US Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]] in 2023]] |
[[File:Secretary Blinken Holds a Press Conference with UK Foreign Secretary Cleverly (52633939089).jpg|thumb|upright=1.2|Cleverly in Washington DC with US Secretary of State [[Antony Blinken]] in 2023]] |
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In January 2023, Cleverly again met [[Antony Blinken]], the [[United States Secretary of State|US Secretary of State]], in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington, DC]] to discuss the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], recent events in [[Iran]] following the [[Mahsa Amini protests|anti-regime protests]] occurring there among other issues, as well as to reaffirm the UK's [[Special Relationship|special relationship]] with the United States.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 January 2023 |title=US and UK vow to maintain support for Ukraine 'for as long as it takes' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/james-cleverly-ukraine-antony-blinken-lloyd-austin-kyiv-b2264072.html |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=The Independent }}</ref> |
In January 2023, Cleverly again met [[Antony Blinken]], the [[United States Secretary of State|US Secretary of State]], in [[Washington, D.C.|Washington, DC]] to discuss the [[Russian invasion of Ukraine]], recent events in [[Iran]] following the [[Mahsa Amini protests|anti-regime protests]] occurring there among other issues, as well as to reaffirm the UK's [[Special Relationship|special relationship]] with the United States.<ref>{{cite web |date=17 January 2023 |title=US and UK vow to maintain support for Ukraine 'for as long as it takes' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/james-cleverly-ukraine-antony-blinken-lloyd-austin-kyiv-b2264072.html |access-date=18 January 2023 |website=The Independent }}</ref> |
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Revision as of 12:39, 24 November 2023
James Cleverly | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Home Secretary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 13 November 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Rishi Sunak | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Suella Braverman | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 6 September 2022 – 13 November 2023 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister |
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Preceded by | Liz Truss | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | David Cameron | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Secretary of State for Education | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 7 July 2022 – 6 September 2022 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Boris Johnson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Michelle Donelan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Kit Malthouse | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Minister without Portfolio | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 24 July 2019 – 13 February 2020 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Prime Minister | Boris Johnson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Brandon Lewis | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Amanda Milling | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Member of Parliament for Braintree | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Assumed office 7 May 2015 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Brooks Newmark | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Majority | 24,673 (48.9%) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | James Spencer Cleverly 4 September 1969 Lewisham, London, England | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Conservative | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Spouse |
Susannah Sparks (m. 2000) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Children | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Residence | Blackheath, London | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Alma mater | Ealing College of Higher Education | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Occupation |
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Signature | ![]() | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Website | cleverly4braintree | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Military service | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Allegiance | United Kingdom | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Branch/service | British Army (Reserve) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Years of service | 1989–present | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Rank | Lieutenant colonel | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Unit | Royal Artillery | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
James Spencer Cleverly TD VR (born 4 September 1969) is a British politician and Army Reserve officer who has served as Home Secretary since November 2023. A member of the Conservative Party, he has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for Braintree in Essex since 2015. He previously served as Foreign Secretary from 2022 to 2023, Secretary of State for Education from July to September 2022, Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party alongside Ben Elliot from 2019 to 2020, and in other junior ministerial positions.
Cleverly advocated a vote for Brexit in the 2016 EU membership referendum. In the second May ministry, he served as Deputy Chairman of the Conservative Party from 2018 to 2019 and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union from April to July 2019. When Boris Johnson was appointed prime minister in July 2019, Cleverly was promoted to the Cabinet as minister without portfolio, serving as Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party alongside Ben Elliot from 2019 to 2020. Cleverly was demoted from the Cabinet in the 2020 ministerial reshuffle and appointed Minister of State for Middle East and North Africa, then Minister of State for Middle East, North Africa and North America in December 2021, before being appointed Minister of State for Europe and North America in February 2022.
In July 2022, he succeeded Michelle Donelan as Secretary of State for Education. In September 2022, he was appointed foreign secretary by then–Prime Minister Liz Truss, making him the first British foreign secretary of African heritage. Retained as foreign secretary when Rishi Sunak became prime minister in October 2022, Cleverly was then appointed home secretary as part of the November 2023 cabinet reshuffle.
Early life and education
Cleverly was born on 4 September 1969 at Lewisham, London, to James Philip and Evelyn Suna Cleverly.[1] His father is British and worked as a surveyor and his mother worked as a midwife and is from Sierra Leone.[2] He was privately educated at Riverston School and Colfe's School, both in Lee, London. Cleverly then trained in the army, but his training was cut short by a leg injury in 1989. He then pursued hospitality management studies at Ealing College of Higher Education (now University of West London) graduating with a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1991.[3][4]
After graduation, he worked for the publishing company Verenigde Nederlandse Uitgeverijen; he joined Informa as international sales manager in 2002. Two years later, Cleverly joined Crimson Publishing as an advertising manager. He became online commercial manager for Caspian Publishing in 2006. The following year, he co-founded web publishing company Point and Fire.[1][3]
Military service
His initial training at Sandhurst was curtailed by injury.
On 6 October 1991, Cleverly was commissioned into the Army Reserve, as a second lieutenant (acting).[5] In January 1993, his commission was confirmed and he was appointed substantive second lieutenant.[6] He was promoted to lieutenant on 6 October 1993,[7] to captain on 26 May 1998,[8] and to major on 1 November 2003.[9] Until 2005, he was Battery Commander of 266 (Para) Battery Royal Artillery (Volunteers).[10]
Cleverly was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 March 2015.[11]
Cleverly currently serves with National Reserve Headquarters, Royal Artillery, working as a Staff Officer in 1st (UK) Armoured Division.[12]
Political career
London Assembly
In March 2007, Cleverly was selected as the candidate for the Bexley and Bromley constituency of the London Assembly in a very tightly fought selection contest. The London Assembly election was held on 1 May with the count and declaration on 2 May, where he received 105,162 votes (52.6% of the vote) and a majority of 75,237.[13]
In January 2009, Cleverly was appointed as the Mayor of London's youth ambassador, a newly created role which was seen as being a replacement post for the deputy mayor for young people, a post left vacant after the resignation of Ray Lewis. The creation of the role caused some controversy as it was not filled by a mayoral appointment but by a member of the Assembly whose formal role was to scrutinise the Mayor. The decision was defended because of the precedent set by the appointment of Kit Malthouse as Deputy Mayor for Policing.[14]
In February 2010, Cleverly was appointed as the chairman of the London Waste and Recycling Board, replacing Boris Johnson who had stood down.[15]
In August 2010, Cleverly posted a tweet saying: "We may be coalition partners but it doesn't stop me thinking Simon Hughes is a dick," in response to a suggestion by Hughes, the Liberal Democrat deputy leader, that backbench MPs should be able to veto Coalition policies. [16] He later apologised.[17]
In November 2010, Cleverly was re-selected to be the Conservative candidate for Bexley and Bromley at the 2012 London Assembly election, going on to win the seat with 88,482 votes (once again 52.6% of the votes) and a majority of 47,768.[18] After the defeat of Brian Coleman at the election, Cleverly was appointed to the chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority.
House of Commons
In January 2015, Cleverly was selected to be the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Braintree for the 2015 general election, after the sitting Conservative MP Brooks Newmark stood down following controversy over sexting and the sending of obscene images online.[19] His selection came after the initial selection process was quietly suspended by Conservative Campaign Headquarters, after the local party chose someone not on the approved candidates list and was told to "think again".[20] He was subsequently elected as the constituency's MP,[21] following which he did not defend his seat at the 2016 London Assembly election.[22]
In November 2015 Cleverly was criticised for pushing through the closure of 10 fire stations in London after the death of an elderly man in Camden following delays in the arrival of fire crews. In response, Cleverly said: "It is impossible for them to say that with certainty. I think it would be much wiser for the FBU to wait for the details of that fire investigation to come out before they start making these opportunistic allegations."[23]
In January 2016, the Labour Party proposed an amendment to the Housing and Planning Bill 2016[24] that would have required private landlords to make homes which they put up for rent "fit for human habitation". According to Parliament's register of interests, Cleverly was one of 72 Conservative MPs who voted against the amendment and who personally derived an income from renting out property. The Conservative Government had responded to the amendment by saying that they believed homes should be fit for human habitation but did not want to pass the new law that would explicitly require it.[25]
In March 2016 Cleverly was asked to step down as patron of Advocacy for All, a charity supporting disadvantaged people in South East England. The charity felt he was no longer a suitable person for the role, given that he had voted to cut Employment and Support Allowance (the benefit paid to disabled people who are unable to work).[26][27]
Cleverly advocated voting for Brexit in the 2016 EU membership referendum.[28]
Cleverly was re-elected, with an increased majority (62.8% of the votes cast), at the 2017 general election.[29] In January 2018 he was appointed as a deputy chairman of the Conservative Party[30] before becoming a junior minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union in April 2019.
In October 2018 Cleverly defended Conservative London mayoral candidate Shaun Bailey over potentially Islamophobic and Hinduphobic comments made in a pamphlet and suggested that black boys were drifting into crime as a result of learning more about faiths other than "their own Christian culture".[31]
On 29 May 2019, Cleverly announced he was standing to replace Theresa May in the 2019 Conservative leadership election,[32] before withdrawing from the race on 4 June 2019.[33]
Following the appointment of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister, Cleverly was appointed Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party, serving alongside Ben Elliot.
In the 2020 cabinet reshuffle, Cleverly was appointed Minister of State for the Middle East and North Africa.
In September 2020, he expressed concern about a "looming" famine in Yemen.[34] In March 2021, Cleverly described the situation in Yemen as one of the worst humanitarian crises in the world.[35] In March 2022, he said that attempts to compare Saudi Arabia to Russia are "ridiculously distasteful". He called Saudi Arabia an "incredibly influential country in the region" and a "significant oil and gas producer."[36]
On 7 July 2022, Cleverly succeeded Michelle Donelan as Secretary of State for Education, a post that he held for almost two months.[37]
Foreign Secretary
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/73/Foreign_Secretary_James_Cleverly_meets_Catherine_Colonna_%2852738581323%29.jpg/260px-Foreign_Secretary_James_Cleverly_meets_Catherine_Colonna_%2852738581323%29.jpg)
Cleverly was promoted Foreign Secretary by incoming Prime Minister Liz Truss on 6 September 2022.
Cleverly attended the UN Security Council meeting on 22 September, where he called on other countries to reject the annexation referendums due to take place in Russian-occupied areas in Eastern and Southern Ukraine.[38]
On 20 October 2022, he announced that the United Kingdom would pursue sanctions against Iran for supplying drones to attack civilian targets in Ukraine. Cleverly stated that "Iran cannot be allowed to violate UN resolutions".[39]
Endorsing former Prime Minister Boris Johnson ahead of the October 2022 Conservative Party leadership election Johnson ended up not standing, so Cleverly then endorsed Rishi Sunak.[40] Sunak re-appointed him to his cabinet as Foreign Secretary on 25 October 2022.
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5c/Foreign_Secretary_James_Cleverly_meets_Ethiopia_Prime_Minister_-_52550983134.jpg/260px-Foreign_Secretary_James_Cleverly_meets_Ethiopia_Prime_Minister_-_52550983134.jpg)
In October 2022, due to doubts raised that British homosexual football fans would be safe at the 2022 Football World Cup taking place in Qatar, Cleverly suggested that they should show "a little bit of flex and compromise",[41] adding that he thought it was "important when you're a visitor to a country that you respect the culture of your host nation." He described Qatar as "an Islamic country with a very different set of cultural norms to our own [those of Britain]".[42] Labour called his advice "shockingly tone-deaf",[43] due to the fact that gay activity is illegal in Qatar and that Cleverly had known that if gay people expressed their homosexuality openly in Qatar they would be arrested. Earlier in 2022, LGBT organisations stated that "progress has been slow" in attempting to ensure the safety of LGBT football fans with FIFA in Qatar – and additionally that reassurances from Qatar had "not been adequate".[44] In Qatar sex between men carries a penalty of up to 7 years in prison.[42]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/3/33/Foreign_Secretary_James_Cleverly_visits_Israel_%2853180940629%29.jpg/260px-Foreign_Secretary_James_Cleverly_visits_Israel_%2853180940629%29.jpg)
In May 2022, the country's emir, Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani, said that he believed criticism about Qatar being chosen to host the World Cup came from "people who cannot accept the idea that an Arab Muslim country would host a tournament like the World Cup".[42][45] Sunak's spokesperson distanced themselves from Cleverly's comments, saying that fans should not have to "compromise who they are", as well as that "Qatar's policies are not those of the UK Government and not ones we would endorse".[46]
Later, in November 2022, Cleverly stated that his actions were "about ensuring that the English and Welsh fans going over to enjoy the football were safe and happy and that they enjoyed themselves whilst watching the tournament."[47]
In December 2022, despite human rights concerns in Saudi Arabia, Cleverly called Saudi Arabia a strategic partner.[48] In the same month, Cleverly met his Norwegian counterpart, Anniken Huitfeldt, to discuss continued military cooperation and attended the annual Christmas tree lighting.[49]
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Secretary_Blinken_Holds_a_Press_Conference_with_UK_Foreign_Secretary_Cleverly_%2852633939089%29.jpg/260px-Secretary_Blinken_Holds_a_Press_Conference_with_UK_Foreign_Secretary_Cleverly_%2852633939089%29.jpg)
In January 2023, Cleverly again met Antony Blinken, the US Secretary of State, in Washington, DC to discuss the Russian invasion of Ukraine, recent events in Iran following the anti-regime protests occurring there among other issues, as well as to reaffirm the UK's special relationship with the United States.[50]
Cleverly was criticised by Conservative MPs, including Liz Truss, for refusing to reclassify China as a "threat" in response to the Chinese Government's aggressive foreign policy and its human rights abuses of the Uyghur Muslim community.[51] He called China a potential "partner for good".[52]
On 19 July 2023, Cleverly made a public statement following his being mooted as a possible successor to the departing Defence Secretary, Ben Wallace. Cleverly asked Prime Minister Sunak to leave him in his current position, because he said he really likes the job. He stated that if he was removed from his post, "you will see nail marks on the parquet floor in my office".[53]
In August 2023, Cleverly made his first visit to China as the first UK Government minister to visit the country since 2018.[54] The trip is reportedly to promote bilateral trade and climate change policy and challenge China's response to the Russo-Ukrainian War.[55][56]
On 13 September 2023, he met Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan in Ankara and stated that Turkey is an "indispensable partner" to the UK and "has truly significant commitments to NATO."[57]
Home Secretary
In Sunak's cabinet reshuffle on 13 November 2023, Cleverly was appointed Home Secretary, succeeding Suella Braverman.[58][59]
On 23 November 2023, a source said that Cleverly used "unparliamentary" language to describe the Labour MP Alex Cunningham. Cleverly denied claims he called the Stockton North constituency a "shithole" in response to a question in the Commons from Cunningham.[60]
Personal life
Cleverly married Susannah Sparks in 2000; the couple have two sons.[1] Cleverly lives in Blackheath, Southeast London.[61]
His cousin Chris Cleverly is a lawyer and businessman.[62]
Cleverly is a fan of the miniature wargame Warhammer 40,000; he has a private YouTube channel dedicated to painting the game's miniatures.[63]
Honours and decorations
Cleverly was awarded the Efficiency Decoration (TD) for 12 years' commissioned service in the Territorial Army in January 2012,[65][66] as well as the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012,[67] the Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal in 2022 and the King Charles III Coronation Medal in 2023.
He was sworn of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom on 8 October 2019 at Buckingham Palace as part of his appointment as Minister without portfolio and Conservative Party Chairman in the Johnson ministry. Membership of the Privy Council affords the honorary prefix "the Right Honourable" for life.[68]
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Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal |
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Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal |
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Queen Elizabeth II Platinum Jubilee Medal |
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King Charles III Coronation Medal |
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Efficiency Decoration (TD) |
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Volunteer Reserves Service Medal (VR) |
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Notes
- ^ Jointly with the Department for International Development until September 2020; Middle East and North Africa until December 2021.
- ^ As Minister of State for Europe. Rehman Chishti assumed responsibility for North America.
- ^ As Minister of State for Asia and the Middle East. The Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon assumed responsibility for North Africa.
References
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- ^ Lavender, Matthew (29 May 2019). "Conservative leadership race: Who is James Cleverly?". Sky News. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 26 April 2022.
- ^ a b Mulholland, Hélène (6 May 2009). "Man of action". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 14 December 2016.
- ^ Page 4: The Journey to Leadership from UWL. In: Your University – The Magazine for UWL Alumni and Friends – Winter 2019 Archived 5 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine at electronic publishing platform Issuu.com
- ^ "No. 52740". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 December 1991. p. 18966.
- ^ "No. 53171". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 January 1993. p. 436.
- ^ "No. 53479". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 November 1993. p. 17888.
- ^ "No. 55228". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 August 1998. p. 8984.
- ^ "No. 57252". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 April 2004. p. 4383.
- ^ "James Cleverly". London.GOV.UK. Archived from the original on 25 November 2013. Retrieved 2 November 2015.
- ^ "No. 62207". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 February 2018. p. 3151.
- ^ Cleverly MP, James. "About James". cleverly4braintree.com/about. Retrieved 25 October 2022.
- ^ "London Elections: Bexley & Bromley". BBC News. Archived from the original on 3 November 2021. Retrieved 30 October 2021.
- ^ "London's youth ambassador James Cleverly". The Guardian. 6 May 2009. Archived from the original on 24 August 2020. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ^ "James Cleverly". London Waste and Recycling Board. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ^ "Tory in 'abusive' Twitter insult to MP Simon Hughes". BBC News. 18 August 2010. Archived from the original on 25 September 2015. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
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- ^ "LONDON ELECTION 2012: Conservative James Cleverly retains Bexley & Bromley seat". SW Londoner. 4 May 2012. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ^ "Cleverly selected as Conservative parliamentary candidate for Braintree". Braintree and Witham Times. Archived from the original on 14 April 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
- ^ "David Cameron's secret A-list". The Spectator. 28 March 2015. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Election as MP". eadt.co.uk. 8 May 2015. Archived from the original on 3 June 2016. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
- ^ "Former members of the London Assembly". London City Hall. 26 November 2015. Archived from the original on 13 October 2020. Retrieved 22 May 2016.
- ^ "The men who pushed through cuts to fire brigade close ranks". Camden New Journal. 19 November 2015. Archived from the original on 4 February 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
- ^ "Did MPs vote against forcing homes to be made fit to live in?". Full Fact. London. 26 June 2017.
- ^ Stone, Jon (9 November 2012). "Tories vote down law requiring landlords make their homes fit for human habitation". The Independent. Retrieved 28 March 2019.
- ^ "Three Tory MPs, including Zac Goldsmith, asked to stand down as patrons of disability charities". Third Sector. London: Haymarket Media Group. 18 March 2016.
- ^ Winterbottom, Summer (15 March 2016). "Second Tory MP told to resign as charity patron after voting for £30 ESA cuts - EvolvePolitics.com". Evolve Politics. Retrieved 23 March 2017.
- ^ Perraudin, Frances (1 November 2015). "Tory MP reveals he smoked marijuana and watched online porn". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 1 November 2015. Retrieved 1 November 2015.
- ^ "Braintree Parliamentary constituency". BBC News. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 12 June 2017.
- ^ "Party Structure and Organisation". Conservatives. Archived from the original on 5 October 2016. Retrieved 8 February 2019.
- ^ Sabbagh, Dan (4 October 2018). "Tory deputy chairman admits concerns about Shaun Bailey remarks". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 4 October 2018. Retrieved 4 October 2018.
- ^ Acharya, Bhargav (29 May 2019). "Junior Brexit Minister James Cleverly enters race to be next UK PM..." Reuters. Archived from the original on 29 May 2019. Retrieved 29 May 2019.
- ^ Wills, Ella (4 June 2019). "James Cleverly withdraws from Tory leadership race". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 4 June 2019. Retrieved 4 June 2019.
- ^ "Yemen: UK government accused of 'turning a blind eye' to war crimes by failing to halt Saudi arms sales". Sky News. 24 September 2020.
- ^ "Even inaptly named Cleverly sees fault lines in Yemen aid argument". The Guardian. 2 March 2021.
- ^ "James Cleverly: It's "Ridiculously Distasteful" To Compare Russia With Saudi Arabia". HuffPost. 17 March 2022.
- ^ UK Prime Minister [@10DowningStreet] (7 July 2022). "The Rt Hon James Cleverly MP @JamesCleverly has been appointed Secretary of State for Education @educationgovuk" (Tweet). Retrieved 7 July 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ Brown, Faye (22 September 2022). "Foreign Secretary James Cleverly calls on countries to reject Putin's 'sham' referenda in Ukraine". Sky News. Archived from the original on 23 September 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2022.
- ^ "Britain readies sanctions in response to Iran supplying weapons in Ukraine". Reuters. 20 October 2022. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "New prime minister – latest: Sunak tight-lipped as he arrives in Westminster – as bookies say race all-but over". Sky News. Retrieved 24 October 2022.
- ^ "LGBT football fans told to be respectful at Qatar World Cup". BBC News. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ a b c "Top U.K. diplomat tells LGBT World Cup fans to 'be respectful' in Qatar". The Washington Post. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ Mitib, Molly Hudson. "James Cleverly accused of 'tone-deaf' advice to gay World Cup fans heading to Qatar". The Times. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "LGBT football fans told to be respectful at Qatar World Cup". BBC News. 26 October 2022. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "Foreign Secretary James Cleverly criticised for saying LGBT football fans should 'respect' Qatar". Sky News. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "LGBT+ fans should be 'respectful' of Qatar during World Cup, UK foreign secretary says". The Independent. Retrieved 27 October 2022.
- ^ "Qatar has taken 'real steps' for safety of gay fans, says foreign secretary". BBC News. 23 November 2022. Retrieved 23 November 2022.
- ^ "James Cleverly says Saudis are our strategic partners despite human rights concerns". The Times. 12 December 2022.
- ^ Almås, Gry Blekastad (5 December 2022). "Tente ny norsk julegran – spøkte med Trafalgar-treet". NRK (in Norwegian). Retrieved 6 December 2022.
- ^ "US and UK vow to maintain support for Ukraine 'for as long as it takes'". The Independent. 17 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
- ^ Diver, Tony (29 April 2023). "James Cleverly: Dealing with China is 'not a comfortable chit chat over tea and biscuits'". The Telegraph.
- ^ "China can be a 'partner for good', says Cleverly ahead of major speech". The Independent. 11 December 2022.
- ^ "James Cleverly makes public appeal to keep job as foreign secretary". The Guardian. 19 July 2023.
- ^ "James Cleverly visits Beijing as MPs criticise China strategy". BBC News. 30 August 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ Reporter, George Grylls, Political Correspondent | Geraldine Scott, Political (30 August 2023). "James Cleverly visits Beijing in appeal for Chinese investment". ISSN 0140-0460. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
{{cite news}}
:|first=
has generic name (help)CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ Wintour, Patrick (29 August 2023). "UK foreign secretary to challenge China over support for Russia in Ukraine war". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
- ^ "British foreign secretary says Türkiye is 'indispensable partner' to UK". Anadolu Agency. 14 September 2023.
- ^ Joshi, Josh Salisbury, Nicholas Cecil, Jitendra (13 November 2023). "Suella Braverman sacked as Rishi Sunak Cabinet reshuffle under way". Evening Standard. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ^ "Ministerial appointments: November 2023". GOV.UK. UK Government. 14 November 2023. Retrieved 14 November 2023.
- ^ "James Cleverly admits calling Labour MP 'unparliamentary' word". BBC News. 23 November 2023.
- ^ Rayner, Gordon (27 August 2022). "How Liz Truss's Cabinet could look: Who's in and who's out?". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 27 August 2022. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
- ^ Nimmo, Jamie. "The curious past of the West Ham bid team". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 12 September 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
- ^ Carter, Gus (28 September 2022). "In defence of Warhammer". The Spectator. Archived from the original on 29 September 2022. Retrieved 29 September 2022.
It turns out the Foreign Secretary, James Cleverly, is a fan. His private YouTube channel is dedicated to following expert miniatures painters. In 2012, he tweeted out a video on how to paint Astorath the Grim, high chaplain of the Blood Angels Space Marine Chapter.
- ^ Perraudin, Frances (November 2015). "Tory MP reveals he smoked marijuana and watched online porn". The Guardian.
- ^ "No. 60031". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 January 2012. p. 782.
- ^ "James Cleverly AM". Old Bexley & Sidcup Conservatives. Archived from the original on 7 March 2014. Retrieved 7 March 2014.
- ^ "James Cleverly Uniform City Hall". June 2014. Archived from the original on 16 April 2017. Retrieved 4 May 2018.
- ^ King, Ceri (8 October 2019). "ORDERS APPROVED AND BUSINESS TRANSACTED AT THE PRIVY COUNCIL HELD BY THE QUEEN AT BUCKINGHAM PALACE ON 8TH OCTOBER 2019" (PDF). The Privy Council Office. Retrieved 10 May 2023.
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