Rt Hon Sir Michael Fallon KCB was first elected MP for Sevenoaks in 1997. He was Secretary of State for Defence from July 2014 to November2017. Formerly he served as Minister of State at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills and Minister of State at the Department for Energy and Climate Change. He retired from Parliament in November 2019, prior to the General Election in December 2019.
Political Career
1983-1992 MP for the
constituency of Darlington
1987-1988 PPS to the Secretary
of State for Energy
1988-1990 Government Whip,
promoted to Lord Commissioner of the Treasury
1990-1992 Schools Minister in
the Department for Education and Science
1997-2019 MP for the constituency
of Sevenoaks
1997-1998 Shadow Spokesman for
Trade & Industry
1997-1998 Shadow Financial
Secretary to the Treasury
1999-2012 Member of Treasury
Select Committee
2001-2010 Chairman of Treasury
Select Sub-Committee
2010-2012 Deputy Chairman of
the Conservative Party
2012-on Privy Counsellor
2012-2014 Minister of State for
Business and Enterprise
2013-2014 Minister of State for
Energy
2014-2017 Secretary of State
for Defence with overall responsibility for the business of the department providing
strategic direction on policy, operations, acquisition and personnel matters,
including: operational strategy, including as a member of the National Security
Council; defence planning, programme and resource allocation; international
relations; defence exports policy, including as chair of the cross-Government
Exports Working Group; nuclear programme; communications.
Sevenoaks
Constituency
After becoming MP for Sevenoaks, Michael was involved in many successful local
campaigns including:
- Lobbying for a new grammar school in Sevenoaks
- Improving broadband speeds in rural areas
- Hosting the Swanley Job Fairs for employers and prospective employees
- Encouraging small and medium-sized businesses throughout the constituency
- Pressing for the dualling of the A21 near Pembury – which is now complete
- Leading the campaign to save Sevenoaks Hospital, culminating in the May 2007 decision of West Kent Primary Care Trust to secure its long-term future
- Winning a £1 million government grant to build the new Riverhead Infants School
- Fighting the closure of Sevenoaks Police Station which led to a decision to open a new police centre which is now based in the Sevenoaks District Council offices
- Lobbying for better noise protection for residents living near the three motorways (M25, M20 & M26) that cut across the constituency
- Winning a new environmental barrier for Swanley and Swanley Village as part of the M25 widening
- Campaigning to save the local post offices throughout the area
- Successfully assisting hundreds of constituents who have had problems with government bureaucracy over many years
Throughout his time as an MP Michael ran 22 advice surgeries each year in Sevenoaks and Swanley and, in addition, attended many local events and visited all types of organisations throughout the Sevenoaks constituency. He has been a school governor and a Patron of the Rockdale House Appeal. He is President of the RSBC (formerly the RLSB), a Vice-President of the Sevenoaks Rugby Club, Patron of Darenth Valley Youth Music and President of the Friends of St Mary’s Sundridge.
Business
Career
Michael is a former director of Quality Care Homes plc (nursing homes), Just
Learning Ltd (day nurseries), Attendo AB (Scandinavian social and health care)
and Tullett Prebon plc (inter-dealer broking). He resigned all his outside business interests
when he was appointed a Government Minister in 2012. See here
for his latest business interests.
Michael has been a regular writer and broadcaster on politics, economics defence and education. His earlier publications include The Caravan Moves On, The Quango Explosion, Sovereign Members, and Brighter Schools. He was chairman of the All-Party Classics Group until 2012.
Personal
Michael was born in Scotland in 1952, and educated at Epsom College. He graduated with Honours MA in Classics and
Ancient History from St Andrew’s University.