34 Facts About Damian Green

Damian Howard Green was born on 17 January 1956 and is a British politician who served as First Secretary of State and Minister for the Cabinet Office from June to December 2017 in the Second May government.

Damian Green served in several shadow ministerial positions, including Shadow Transport Secretary and Shadow Education and Skills Secretary.

Damian Green came to national prominence in November 2008 after being arrested and having his parliamentary office raided by police, although no case was brought.

Damian Green was appointed as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Prime Minister Theresa May in July 2016.

Damian Green became Chair of the One Nation Conservatives caucus following the formation of Boris Johnson's government in July 2019.

Damian Green grew up in Reading, Berkshire and was educated at Reading School.

Damian Green studied Philosophy, politics and economics at Balliol College, Oxford.

Damian Green was President of the Oxford Union in 1977 and was the vice-chairman of the Federation of Conservative Students from 1980 until 1982.

In 1978, Damian Green was appointed by BBC Radio as a financial journalist, before joining Channel 4 News as a business producer in 1982.

Damian Green 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.

Damian Green became the City editor and 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.

Damian Green had acted as an occasional speechwriter for Major since 1988.

Damian Green left 10 Downing Street in 1994 to run his own consultancy in public affairs.

Damian Green stood against Labour's Ken Livingstone in Brent East at the 1992 general election, but lost by 5,971 votes.

Damian Green 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.

Damian Green held the seat with a majority of 5,345 and has remained the constituency's MP.

Damian Green made his maiden speech on 20 May 1997.

Damian Green 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.

Damian Green returned to the frontbench under the leadership of David Cameron in 2005 as a spokesman on home affairs and shadow minister for immigration.

Damian 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.

Damian Green's sacking in the 2014 cabinet reshuffle was met with some surprise as he was considered to be highly regarded by colleagues.

Damian Green was appointed as Secretary of State for Work and Pensions by Theresa May in July 2016.

Damian Green was appointed as First Secretary of State on 11 June 2017, as part of the cabinet reshuffle following the 2017 general election, effectively making him May's deputy.

Damian Green was promoted to Minister for the Cabinet Office.

Damian 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".

Damian Green has claimed for the interest on his mortgage, for his council tax, and for his phone bills.

Damian Green denied that he downloaded or looked at such images.

Damian Green said that the claims made by the retired Bob Quick were "political smears".

On 20 December 2017, Damian Green was removed from his position; it was found that he had lied to colleagues over pornography found on his computer.

Damian Green stated she had "greatly appreciated" his hard work and contribution to her team and that it was "right" that he had apologised to Maltby.

Damian Green is an advocate of allowing illegal immigrants to return to the UK sooner.

Damian Green has supported voluntary return for overstayers and other migrants in order to avoid deportation, claiming "we expect those with no right to be in the country to leave voluntarily".

Damian Green has stated that the illegal immigrants being in the UK for a "shorter period of time" was a positive and "saves money".

Damian Green was opposed to Brexit prior to the 2016 EU membership referendum.