8 Facts About Sir Michael Fallon

1. Sir Michael Fallon had an interrupted parliamentary career that spanned four decades and two constituencies.

2. Sir Michael Fallon was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath for political and public service as part of the Resignation Honours of the outgoing Prime Minister David Cameron.

3. Sir Michael Fallon was banned from driving for 18 months in 1983 after admitting a drink-driving offence during the general election campaign.

4. In late October 2017 it was reported that Sir Michael Fallon had repeatedly and inappropriately touched journalist Julia Hartley-Brewer's knee during a dinner in 2002.

5. In January 2014, Sir Michael Fallon was appointed Minister for Portsmouth, subsequently being promoted to the Cabinet, on 15 July 2014, as Secretary of State for Defence.

6. Sir Michael Fallon was selected as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for Darlington in July 1982, and fought the Darlington by-election on 24 March 1983, which was held after the Labour MP Ted Fletcher had died.

7. Sir Michael Fallon became Research Assistant to Baroness Elles in 1979, around the time that she became an MEP.

8. Sir Michael Fallon was educated at Craigflower Preparatory School near Dunfermline and at Epsom College, an independent boys' school in Surrey.