Sir Julian Lewis | |
|---|---|
 Official portrait, 2018 | |
| Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee | |
| Assumed office 15 July 2020 | |
| Preceded by | Dominic Grieve |
| Chair of the Defence Select Committee | |
| In office 17 June 2015 – 6 November 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Rory Stewart |
| Succeeded by | Tobias Ellwood |
| Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces | |
| In office 10 May 2005 – 6 May 2010 | |
| Leader | David Cameron |
| Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office | |
| In office 1 July 2004 – 10 May 2005 | |
| Leader | Michael Howard |
| Shadow Minister for the Armed Forces | |
| In office 1 July 2002 – 1 July 2004 | |
| Leader | Iain Duncan Smith |
| Opposition Whip | |
| In office 1 July 2001 – 1 July 2002 | |
| Leader | Iain Duncan Smith |
| Member of Parliament for New Forest East | |
| Assumed office 1 May 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency created |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Julian Murray Lewis 26 September 1951 Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales |
| Nationality | British |
| Political party | Conservative[a] |
| Other political affiliations | Labour (1976–1978; entryist) |
| Alma mater | |
| Awards | Knight Bachelor |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Branch/service |  Royal Naval Reserve |
| Years of service | 1979–1982 |
| Rank | Seaman |
| Unit | HMS President – 10th Mine Counter-Measures Squadron |
| Academic background | |
| Thesis | British military planning for post-war strategic defence, 1942–47 (1981) |
| |
Sir Julian Murray Lewis (born 26 September 1951) is a British Conservative Party politician who has been the Member of Parliament (MP) for New Forest East since 1997.[1] Lewis has served as Chair of the Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) since 2020, succeeding Dominic Grieve.
Lewis previously served as Chair of the Defence Select Committee (HCDC), from 2015 to 2017 and from 2017 to 2019, and is the first Parliamentarian to have chaired both the ISC and the HCDC. He actively pursues the retention and renewal of the British strategic nuclear deterrent, the UK Trident programme – confirmed in 2016 – and campaigns for Defence expenditure to be restored to 3% of GDP. Lewis had the Conservative Party whip removed after successfully standing against Boris Johnson's preferred candidate for the chairmanship of the Intelligence and Security Committee, former Secretary of State for Transport Chris Grayling, on 15 July 2020.[2][3] The whip was restored on 30 December 2020.[4][5]
A Eurosceptic, Lewis is a supporter of the pro-Brexit groups Leave Means Leave and the European Research Group (ERG).[6] He was one of just 28 Conservative MPs (the 'Spartans') who voted all three times against Theresa May's EU Withdrawal Agreement, regarding it as "Brexit in Name Only".[7]
- ^ "Lewis, Rt Hon. Dr Julian (Murray), (born 26 Sept. 1951), PC 2015; MP (C) New Forest East, since 1997". Who's Who. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.24459.
- ^ Cite error: The named reference
:0was invoked but never defined (see the help page). - ^ "Dr Julian Lewis has Tory whip removed after running against PM's security committee chair pick". Sky News. Retrieved 15 July 2020.
- ^ "Parliamentary career for Dr Julian Lewis - MPs and Lords - UK Parliament". members.parliament.uk. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ Waller, Jon (30 December 2020). "Party whip restored to New Forest MP Julian Lewis". Advertiser and Times. Retrieved 30 December 2020.
- ^ "Co-Chairmen – Political Advisory Board – Supporters". Leave Means Leave. Archived from the original on 24 October 2017. Retrieved 14 December 2017.
- ^ "How Conservative MPs voted on the motion". ConservativeHome. 29 March 2019. Retrieved 2 July 2019.