David Cameron
British Foreign Secretary (from November 13, 2023), former Prime Minister of the United Kingdom (2010-2016)
David Cameron is the head of the UK Foreign Office, former Prime Minister and leader of the Conservative Party (2005-2016).
Brief biography
David Cameron was born on October 9, 1966. He has Scottish roots, and one of his ancestors was related to King William IV of Hanover.
He was educated at Eton College and Bracenews College, Oxford University. He earned a bachelor's degree in political science, philosophy and economics.
He began working with the Conservative Party in 1988. Already in 1992 he became a special adviser to the government in the Treasury Department, and then received the same position in the Home Office.
From 1994 to 2001 he worked as director of corporate affairs at media company Carlton Communications.
In 2001 he won his first election and entered the British Parliament, where he became a member of the Home Affairs Committee.
In 2003 he became deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.
In 2005, the party lost the election, and Cameron announced that he intended to lead the Conservatives. Despite the unexpectedness of this announcement, he won 78% of the vote in the second round of party voting and became chairman of the Conservatives and the official leader of the parliamentary opposition.
Under his chairmanship, the party became more concerned with social responsibility and developed cooperation with individuals, companies and local authorities.
In 2010, the party won the election and formed a coalition with the Liberal Democrats. A new Cabinet was formed, with Cameron as its head.
In relations with the European Union, Cameron demanded that Britain be given more rights to control its own border. This included restricting the flow of migration from other EU member states.
On the eve of the referendum on Britain's future in the EU, Cameron emphasized that the kingdom was ready to remain in the EU if the union was reformed.
In 2016, during negotiations with the EU, he agreed on a special status for the UK and that the country would be able to avoid paying full payments to migrants from other EU countries for the next seven years.
However, this subsequently became meaningless as Britons voted in a referendum to leave the EU.
Following the referendum result, Cameron announced his resignation, which was accepted by Queen Elizabeth II.
In November 2023, Cameron unexpectedly returned to politics and became Foreign Secretary in Rishi Sunak's government. One of his first visits was to Kiev.
War in Ukraine
In 2014, the UK supported Ukraine after Russian aggression, and Cameron himself refused to shake hands with Vladimir Putin during a meeting in June 2014.
He urged the EU to join with the US in imposing sanctions against Russian Federation, but did not support the idea of providing Ukraine with weapons.
Family
Cameron is married. Together with his wife Samantha, who is a businesswoman, he raises three children - two daughters (Nancy and Florence) and a son (Arthur). Another son (Ivan), born in 2002, died at the age of six from cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
