Sir Desmond Swayne was born in 1956 and was educated at Bedford School and St Andrews University.

He was a school master from 1981 to 1987 and a manager with the Royal Bank of Scotland from 1987 to 1997 when he was elected to Parliament for the New Forest West constituency.

He served as an Army officer in the Reserves for over 30 years. He was called up and deployed to Iraq from July to December 2003. During this service he contributed a popular audio diary to BBC Radio Four.

Sir Desmond was knighted in the Queen’s 90th Birthday Honours list in June 2016.  He was made a Privy Councillor in the New Year’s Honours List 2012.

Appointments in Government
Minister of State (Department for International Development) 2014 – 2016

Vice Chamberlain of Her Majesty’s Household 2013 – 2014

Lord Commissioner 2012 – 2013

Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Prime Minister 2010 – 2012

Appointments in Opposition

Parliamentary Private Secretary to the Leader of the Opposition 2004 – 2010

Opposition Whip 2001 – 2004

Shadow Minister 1999 – 2001

Sir Desmond has served in the following select committees:

Administration, Procedure, Defence, Social Security, Scotland

He is currently a member of the International Trade Committee.

He is Chairman of the Conservative Friends for International Development

To keep fit, he swims a quarter of a mile in the Serpentine daily throughout the year when Parliament is in session.  He runs and cycles in London and the New Forest.