Ministers of Defence

Join us for an enlightening discussion with two former Secretaries of State for Defence, Malcolm Rifkind and Des Browne, as they reflect on the complexities of the role over recent decades.

Sixty years ago, in 1964, the Ministry of Defence was formed by merging five separate UK government departments, including the Admiralty, the War Office and the Air Ministry.

The National Army Museum is privileged to be hosting two former politicians who have held overall responsibility for this key ministerial department, serving in the role of Secretary of State for Defence. Together, they will compare their experiences in this office both in times of war and peace.

Hosted by Dr Glyn Prysor, the National Army Museum's Research Director, their discussion will explore the challenges the Ministry of Defence has faced in the past, while also exploring possible lessons for the future.

About the speakers

Malcolm Rifkind

Sir Malcolm Rifkind was a Member of Parliament for over 30 years. He served as a cabinet minister under Margaret Thatcher and John Major, with roles including Secretary of State for Defence (1992-95) and Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs (1995-97). He also served as chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee (2010-15). He is a Distinguished Fellow of the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and a Visiting Professor at King’s College London’s Department of War Studies.

Des Browne

Des Browne, The Lord Browne of Ladyton, was a Member of Parliament for 13 years. He served as a cabinet minister under Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, with roles including Secretary of State for Defence (2006-08) and Secretary of State for Scotland (2007-08). He was made a life peer in 2010 and is a Fellow Commoner of St Catharine's College, Cambridge.