About John Healey

John Healey is a British Labour Party politician currently serving as the Secretary of State for Defence, a position he assumed in July 2024. He was elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Rawmarsh and Conisbrough in the same year. Healey has been an MP since 1997, initially representing Wentworth and Dearne, demonstrating a long-standing parliamentary career spanning over two decades. Healey studied Social and Political Science at Christ’s College, Cambridge, matriculating in 1979. Before entering Parliament, he worked extensively in the voluntary sector advocating for disability rights and held roles in trade union communications and campaigns, including serving as Campaigns Director for the Trades Union Congress. During Labour’s time in government from 1997 to 2010, Healey held various ministerial roles. He started as Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Adult Skills at the Department for Education and Skills and progressed to junior Treasury minister positions between 2002 and 2007. Later, he served as Minister of State in the Department for Communities and Local Government, including responsibility for flood recovery and housing. He was appointed to the Privy Council in 2008. In opposition, Healey was Shadow Health Secretary from 2010 to 2011 and Shadow Housing Secretary from 2015 to 2020. Since 2020 until his 2024 cabinet appointment, he was Shadow Secretary of State for Defence. As Defence Secretary, Healey oversees the UK’s Defence policy, budget, strategic planning, and international defence relationships, including NATO and partnerships such as AUKUS. He is responsible for the Defence Investment Plan and veterans' affairs, among other duties. John Healey is married with one son and resides in Rotherham, England[1][2][3][6].

Latest right now for John Healey