Rt Hon Dr Julian Lewis

 Julian Lewis is the Chairman of the House of Commons Defence Select Committee – in which role he has consistently campaigned for the renewal of the Trident nuclear deterrent submarines and the raising of the Defence budget from 2 per cent to 3 per cent of GDP. He was elected to chair the Committee by his fellow MPs, both in June 2015 and again in July 2017, shortly after becoming Conservative MP for New Forest East for the sixth time since 1997.

Previously, in September 2010, he had been appointed by the then Prime Minister to the Intelligence and Security Committee for a five-year term and, in October 2014, he was additionally elected to the Defence Select Committee. From November 2002 until May 2010, he had been the Shadow Defence Minister for the Royal Navy, the nuclear deterrent and strategic issues. He held that post continuously, except for a period as Shadow Minister for the Cabinet Office between September 2004 and the May 2005 General Election.

Julian was appointed to the Privy Council in March 2015.